Boston Bruins has finished a long ski and is back on the road.
One night after convincingly breaking his 10-game losing line (0-9-1) with a 5-1 victory over Carolina Hurricanes, Bruins has an opportunity to pass the Atlantic Division Rival Buffalo in the scaffolding when they visit Sabers on Sunday evening.
Although Boston (31-37-9, 71 points) has been eliminated from the playoffs for the first time since 2016, said interim coach Joe Sacco that he hopes that it may feel good the night can lead to a strong five last matches in the regular season.
“With the stretch we have been here lately, it is nice to make the guys feel good about themselves again,” Sacco said. “There are many positive things we can talk about, obviously when you win a hockey game. I think it’s important to everyone.”
However, it all started with David Pastrnak, who netted his second hat trick during the season and banded a career high with five points against the hurricanes.
The star wing combined with Linemates Morgan Geekie and Elias Lindholm to make all of Bruins goals and break the team’s 11-match-streak not to do more than three times.
Pastrnak reached the 40-goal brand for the fifth time in his career and is also the fifth Bruin who registered 90 points in three straight seasons.
“He is a leader, one of the guys who gives positivity and work ethics every day and knows it will come through,” said Bruin’s goalkeeper Jeremy Swayman. “It’s something we can all build off and come.”
Pastrnak had scored only four goals under the ski.
“It has obviously been a tough couple of weeks, so I’m proud of the group, the effort, the blocked shots and the commitment to win (Saturday) was there,” he said.
The win was Swayan’s 100th NHL and snapped a personal seven-game skid.
Sunday’s game will get 40 goal stars against each other in Pastrnak and Buffalo’s Tage Thompson, which also reached the performance Saturday in Sabers 3-2 Shootout victory over Tampa Bay Lightning.
Thompson is the first saber to publish several 40 target campaigns since Thomas Vanek (2006-07 and 2008-09).
“I think individual success is a by -product of how you play as a group,” Thompson said. “I’ve been lucky enough to play with many skilled players who have made my life much easier and help me get to that plateau.”
Jason Zucker also did in regulation while Jack Quinn and Alex Tuch counted the shooting destinations to lift Sabers to another victory against a playoffs that continues to team despite the continued absence of forward Josh Norris (unspecified injury) and Jordan Greenway (lower body).
Buffalo (33-36-6, 72 points) comes in on Sunday just one point ahead of his opponent in the division and conference picture, but it is because of a three-game victory and 7-3-0 driving during their last 10 games.
The position may not show it, but Sabers coach Lindy Ruff sees a team that still has the goal to achieve.
“We have work to do as a team, establish how we need to play, how we need to handle the puck night, night out, shift after shift,” Ruff said. “To become a better team, you have to take every period, every game … and use it as a running wide. I think you should give them a lot of credit right now to dig in.”
The players see that the work pays off.
“I think we start to buy the right things and do the right things consistently, and when you do, you give yourself a chance to have success,” Zucker said. “Early in the year, it felt like we would do it for a game or two, and then we would take a night or two or three of.”
-Field level media
