Bruins Cruise Past Avalanche Behind Pastrnak's Two Goals

BOSTON - Throughout the course of a season, there are games that require the proverbial "burning of the tape" - showings that are never to be seen again as a team moves on to its next opponent.
But there are also some performances that are worth saving, remembering, and building upon. The Bruins' 5-1 thumping of the league-leading Colorado Avalanche on Monday afternoon at TD Garden is one of them.

"You know those videos you throw in the trash that you don't like? This is one you keep," said Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy. "And there's gonna be a lot of clips we're gonna look back on a month from now and say, 'This is where all five guys were involved in the forecheck. Forwards were covering for the D, et cetera.' There's gonna be some really good teaching moments in this one. Also resulted in some goals and a nice win."
A win so nice that David Pastrnak, who notched two goals and an assist, called it the Bruins' best victory of the season.
"We are talking full games, 60 minutes, and we just stayed in the moment," said Pastrnak, who now has three goals in his past two games after going scoreless in the previous four. "We were really energized, and it was a great game for us. It was a big two points."
The win came the lone Bruins' home game sandwiched between a stretch of nine road contests that includes a monster six-game trip that begins on Thursday in Seattle and ends on March 5 in Columbus.
"Obviously, it's big. We have been on the road for a while. Coming back to our building just for one game, we wanted to protect our building," said Pastrnak. "Get the two points, knowing that we have a tough road trip going over to the West. Hopefully, we can build off this game, and have a better road trip than the last one."

The win over the Avalanche also marked Boston's final contest without Brad Marchand, who will return after a six-game banishment on Thursday night against the Kraken. The Bruins held their own without the club's leading scorer, posting a 3-2-1 record in his absence.
"You've got to keep on trucking," said Cassidy. "We know he is coming back, and we'll welcome him back. We will be better for it. We will be a better team when you put a guy like him back in the lineup."
With Marchand sidelined, the Bruins relied heavily upon the top line of Taylor Hall, Patrice Bergeron, and Pastrnak against the high-powered Avalanche and the trio did not disappoint. In addition to Pastrnak's three-point afternoon, Hall contributed three assists, while Bergeron notched two points, including what proved to be the winning tally - his 13th goal of the season - at 8:01 of the second period.
"Over the years, we've missed Pasta for stretches, Bergy," said Cassidy. "So, I try not to look at it that way other than who is going to get some extra minutes as soon as that happens, or any guy goes out. Who can take advantage of it? How can we best do right for the team without asking a player to go in and do what March does?
"But I will say this: Taylor Hall does have the ability to do some of those things, especially the playmaking part. Made a lot of nice plays over the last [few games] with those extra minutes maybe. He's still going to get his time…Pasta in general over the last six weeks or whatever it's been, so, he can fill in some of that."
Boston also learned its lesson after squandering a chance at two points against the Avs late last month in the Mile High City. Despite carrying a 3-1 lead into the third period in Denver, the Bruins allowed the Avalanche to knot the game with two goals in the final frame - including the tying marker with just 37 seconds remaining in regulation - before falling in overtime.
"I think that over there, we played a great 50 minutes of hockey," said Pastrnak. "Sometimes in hockey it takes one little bounce. I think that they had nothing the whole game, and then one little bounce got them back in the game. It got us back on our heels…unfortunately, fell short, and that's what happens in hockey.
"You can be the better team, and still lose, and that's the beauty of the sport. We knew that we could play these guys, and we could out skate them. They are really high skills, and a fast-paced team. I think we did a really good job today."

Wait, There's More

During his pregame media availability roughly 90 minutes before puck drop, Cassidy said that Urho Vaakanainen would be in the lineup. But the blue liner left warmups early and did not suit up against the Avalanche.
"He was gonna play but after warmup he said he wasn't feeling right," said Cassidy. "You have to make a quick call, [Connor Clifton] healthy. Just played [on Saturday in Ottawa]. That was, for us, an easy switch…the medical team just told me he's not feeling right. I still haven't gotten an answer. Not feeling right, could that be the aftereffects of that [hit a few weeks ago]? I guess. Not feeling right, did he have a bit of the flu? We'll see."

Given strong play of Trent Frederic, Charlie Coyle, and Craig Smith of late - whose tireless offensive zone shift directly preceded Pastrnak's first goal of the game just 2:30 in into the first period - Cassidy is inclined to leave the trio together moving forward.
"We'd like to keep that together. Someone is going to be probably a little but unhappy, someone is going to have to move around," said Cassidy. "It's just the way it is. So, we'll sort through that when we practice Wednesday in Seattle and put the best plan together as possible and see where it goes.
"Those are the guys that made it all happen [on the first goal]. The D couldn't get out of their end, they're fatigued. We go in, we forecheck, create a turnover. The D does a good job keeping a puck alive, and they're very good at that. Had some good looks.
"Freddy had a point-blanker again, and hopefully they will start going in for them, because you don't want them to get away from what they're doing. Usually, the more you get rewarded, the more you will stick with it, so hopefully that is kind of their mindset."

Jeremy Swayman made his second consecutive start between the pipes and made 28 saves on 29 shots.
"Anytime me or Linus go in net, we both want what's best for the team, and we want to win," said Swayman. "So, absolutely. I love being in net and being able to get points for this team. So, it's a good day, and we're happy with the win."