BOSTON – Even if David Pastrnak isn’t a fully formed NHL player at 19 years old, the exciting, young right wing is putting on full display that he could be a difference-maker for the Boston Bruins down the stretch this season. Pastrnak asserted himself at the same point last year as the youngest player in the league, and it’s happening again now that he’s finally healthy, confident and hitting the upper reaches of his potential as a second year playmaker.
Pastrnak scored the game-winner and the insurance marker in a two-goal performance in Boston’s 3-1 win over the New York Islanders at TD Garden, and now has four goals in his last four games as he’s ratcheting up the chemistry with fellow Czech David Krejci. Combine those now sharpened skills with a growing maturity allowing him to stay out on the ice during crunch time in the third period, and the Bruins clearly know they have something special in a 19-year-old making impressive strides.
But at the same time, Pastrnak also had a team-high six giveaways in the same performance where he scored two goals, and is constantly in a balancing act of electric offensive skill with instances where he needs to get stronger competing along the walls, and with the puck on his stick. The dichotomy makes him a challenge for Bruins head coach Claude Julien, but it’s one he’s willing to take head-on despite the sometimes misdirected criticism from some corners that he doesn’t place enough trust in his young players.
“[Pastrnak] is coming along in the way that you guys are seeing him. I guess I can’t define and say he’s great, he’s poor, whatever. There are definitely areas when you look at his game such as tonight, he was really good for us. We all see and people who know the game will also see where there are areas he has to improve,” said Julien. “He’s got to get stronger on the puck and not turn them over as much as he does. It’s going to happen in the game but it’s about playing the clock as well, looking where you are. If you are up by one goal in your last few minutes and can’t afford big turnovers, it’s about making the right decision.
“So it’s about playing the game the proper way at the right time and to me [Pastrnak] is learning that part of it. Tonight I thought he was better than he had been some of these other nights there where I had to take some of his ice time away. But he’s learning and we are going to stick with him, and continue to give him opportunities to get better.”
The reason they’ll stick with him is the upside that was also on fully display on Saturday afternoon, and the chemistry that’s kicking up between elite, talented forwards in Pastrnak and Krejci while creating game-winning plays.
In the final seconds of a tied 1-1 game, Krejci was wheeling through the offensive zone while drawing all Islanders defenders’ eyes on him. That opened up Pastrnak in the slot, and he fired home a slick pass from Krejci for the game-winner with nine seconds of play left in the second period. It’s the second time in as many games that the Krejci-to-Pastrnak connection has produced a goal, and is starting to generate consistent production with the playoffs quickly approaching.
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“I’m going to say this every time: Krech [David Krejci] is an unbelievable player, and you know he’s going to find me in every position. For me, it’s just a pleasure to play with those guys, and you know I’m really enjoying and trying to do my best for [Krejci],” said Pastrnak. “It’s really hard to tell, I’m just happy I’m in the line.
“I’m just trying to focus on getting better. You know it’s a lot of stuff to improve for me you know I’m still young, I’m learning, and trying to learn from the guys like Krech [David Krejci], Bergy [Patrice Bergeron], you know Loui [Eriksson] and the older guys with much experience. I think with the more experience I can have, the better player I’ll be.”
In the third period Eriksson led Pastrnak with a banked lead pass off the side boards, and the right wing did the rest skating in, keeping his speed and then firing a wind-up blast through Thomas Greiss for his 12th goal of the season. The second Pastrnak goal was also Eriksson’s third point of the night, and finished off an impressive performance for that trio as they look to mix consistency and chemistry over the final month.
“That line was good for us tonight. I thought David had one of his better games there in a while, I’m talking about David Krejci, and David Pastrnak like I said right from the get go you could see his feet moving really well,” said Julien. “He had good speed tonight and he had their defense on their heels, so you know that was a good combination. Loui [Eriksson], he ends up with three points tonight as well, and played another smart hockey game.”
Saturday afternoon’s two-goal performance was a high note just a couple of games after Julien had to switch out Brett Connolly with Pastrnak during an overtime win in Florida against the Panthers, and those highs and lows will still be coming for a young player getting stronger and learning his craft in a top-6 role. But there’s also no doubting Pastrnak is one of those few players on the Bruins roster that could become a game-changing X-Factor during the playoffs when he’s operating at the same level as Saturday’s matinee against the Islanders.
That hope alone is enough for Julien and the Bruins to keep giving Pastrnak these chances to shine in the big pressure moments before truly needing him once the postseason arrives for those types of skilled game-breakers.