Bruins star thrives with new linemates

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Bruins star thrives with new linemates

Matt Vautour · MassLive

Wed, Dec 10, 2025 ·

2 min read

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After two weeks off, David Pastrnak’s shooting was a little rusty as the Bruins star hit the post on an open net.

But his wisecrack game was still on point after Boston’s 5-2 win over the Blues in St. Louis.

Asked how he handled playing with new linemates Fraser Minten and Marat Khustnutdinov, he quipped:

“Just three young kids playing together. It was fun.”

The 29-year-old Pastrnak had six years on Khusnutdinov and eight on Minten, but they looked good together.

Pastrnak played 15:36 over 19 shifts in his first game back. He assisted on Minten’s first of two goasl and Zacha’s empty-netter and was glad to be healthy again.

“It’s good to have the game back coming off of injury,” Pastrnak said. “I felt alright. I felt good.”

Pastrnak’s return meant sitting somebody down. Marco Sturm not only chose to keep surging forward Alex Steeves in the lineup, but on the top line with Elias Lindholm and Morgan Geekie.

“Having David back is a good problem. We had to think about how we wanted to put the lines together,” said Sturm, who sat Mikey Eyssimont. “We thought that lineup would give us the best chance. We didn’t want to touch Lindholm’s line because Steevy did a really good job. We didn’t want to touch (Pavel Zacha’s) line.”

He put Pastrnak with Khustnutdinov and Minten and the two rookies played well with him.

“I needed two guys that can skate with him,” Sturm added. I thought Mints and Khus did a good job."

Pastrnak agreed.

“I was just trying to make them feel comfortable and not change anything about their games,” Pastrnak said. “Seeing Minty get rewarded was great to see.”

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