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Bruins vs. Blackhawks Takeaways: Pastrnak Makes History in OT Win
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- Bruins vs. Blackhawks Takeaways: Pastrnak Makes History in OT Win
Bruins vs. Blackhawks Takeaways: Pastrnak Makes History in OT Win originally appeared on NESN . Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
The Boston Bruins pulled off a late comeback to defeat the Chicago Blackhawks 5-4 in overtime during Saturday's matinee matchup at TD Garden.
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The Bruins erased a two-goal deficit in the third period before Elias Lindholm scored the game-winner 2:32 into overtime. Morgan Geekie forced the extra period with a goal in the final seconds of regulation, while David Pastrnak reached another milestone in Boston's win.
However, the result didn't necessarily reflect the Bruins' overall performance. Boston struggled with puck management and defensive coverage throughout the afternoon, allowing Chicago to generate 41 shots on goal and take control late in the third period.
The victory snapped Boston's two-game losing streak and improved its record to 10-4-1.
Here are four takeaways from the Bruins' overtime win over the Blackhawks.
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David Pastrnak Makes Bruins History
Pastrnak continues to climb Boston's all-time scoring leaderboard, adding another significant milestone to his career Saturday.
The Bruins captain scored his eighth goal of the season in the first period, beating Chicago goaltender Arvid Soderblom on a breakaway to tie the game at 1-1.
Pastrnak received a beautiful backhand stretch pass from Pavel Zacha before finishing the opportunity with a shot over Soderblom's glove.
The goal was the 428th of Pastrnak's Bruins career, moving him past Patrice Bergeron for sole possession of third place on the franchise's all-time goals list.
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Only Johnny Bucyk and Phil Esposito have scored more goals in a Bruins uniform.
Pastrnak's ability to produce at this rate remains one of Boston's biggest offensive advantages. He continues to serve as the team's primary scoring threat, and his production will be especially important as the Bruins look to establish more consistency throughout their lineup.
His latest milestone also puts his place in franchise history into greater perspective. Passing Bergeron, who spent his entire NHL career in Boston, is another significant accomplishment for a player who has become one of the organization's most recognizable stars.
Bruins Struggle to Find Their Rhythm
Saturday's victory shouldn't completely overshadow some of the issues Boston displayed throughout the afternoon.
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The Bruins struggled to maintain possession and allowed Chicago to create too many quality scoring opportunities. The Blackhawks finished with a 41-32 advantage in shots on goal, putting consistent pressure on Michael DiPietro.
The shot differential reflected a larger issue for Boston, which struggled to dictate the pace of play for extended stretches. Chicago was able to generate consistent pressure and force the Bruins into defensive situations rather than allowing them to establish their own offensive rhythm.
Boston also had difficulty containing Chicago's transition game. Anton Frondell scored twice, while Ryan Greene and Connor Bedard added third-period goals that put the Blackhawks in position to leave TD Garden with a win.
The defensive breakdowns were particularly concerning in the third period. After Casey Mittelstadt tied the game at 2-2 in the second, Chicago scored twice to build a 4-2 advantage.
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Allowing Chicago to score twice and take a two-goal lead put Boston in a difficult position, particularly after the Bruins had managed to get the game back to even. The defensive lapses highlighted how quickly momentum could shift when Boston wasn't able to maintain control of the puck.
The Bruins had to rely on a late offensive push to avoid another disappointing result.
Although Boston managed to secure the two points, its performance left plenty of room for improvement. The Bruins will need to be sharper with the puck and more responsible defensively against stronger opponents.
Boston's Late Push Forces Overtime
Boston showed some much-needed resilience when it mattered most, refusing to let a two-goal deficit end its afternoon.
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The Bruins appeared to be in trouble after Greene and Bedard scored in the third period to give Chicago a 4-2 lead. Boston responded quickly, though, with Mason Lohrei finding the back of the net just 46 seconds after Bedard's goal.
JJ Peterka set up Lohrei in front of the net, giving the defenseman his third goal of the season and bringing the Bruins within one.
Boston continued pushing for the equalizer and eventually pulled DiPietro for an extra attacker in the final minutes.
The decision paid off. Geekie scored with just 10.2 seconds remaining in regulation, finishing a play set up by Charlie McAvoy and Peterka to send the game into overtime.
The Bruins' late response was particularly important after struggling to generate consistent offensive pressure for much of the third period. Rather than allowing Chicago's two-goal advantage to dictate the final minutes, Boston found ways to create opportunities and put pressure on Soderblom.
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Geekie's goal also highlighted the importance of Boston continuing to generate offense from different parts of its lineup. With Pastrnak providing an early spark and Lohrei and Geekie delivering late, the Bruins received contributions from multiple players when they needed them most.
The late rally was an important response from a Bruins team that had dropped consecutive games on its recent road trip.
Elias Lindholm Completes Comeback With Overtime Winner
The Bruins carried their late momentum into overtime, where Lindholm delivered the finishing touch.
Boston nearly gave Chicago another opportunity to win the game when Anton Frondell broke in on a scoring chance. DiPietro came up with a crucial save to deny the Blackhawks forward before the Bruins went the other way.
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The stop was especially significant considering how much pressure Chicago generated throughout regulation. DiPietro gave the Bruins an opportunity to complete the comeback, and Lindholm made sure they capitalized on it.
Lindholm finished the opportunity at 2:32 of overtime, beating Soderblom to secure the 5-4 victory.
McAvoy recorded his second assist of the afternoon on the game-winning goal, capping a strong offensive contribution from the Bruins defenseman.
Lindholm's goal capped an afternoon in which Boston's offense ultimately made up for some of its defensive shortcomings. The Bruins found a way to win despite an uneven performance, but they'll need a more complete effort moving forward.
