Bruins Set NHL Wins Record, Pastrnak Hits 60-Goal Mark

PHILADELPHIA- So, where do we begin?
Perhaps, with David Pastrnak's 15th career hat trick, which moved him into sole possession of second place on the Bruins' all-time list.
Or with the fact that Pastrnak's hat trick was also the winger's 300th career goal, making him one of eight players to score that many with Boston.
Or with that same tally also being Pastrnak's 60th goal of the season, securing just the fifth such campaign in Bruins history, the other four having been achieved by Phil Esposito.

On most nights, any of those accolades would be the main topic of conversation. But with this Bruins team, one feat has been more impressive than the next. And so, on a night when the Black & Gold's most exhilarating player made his own history, the team itself remained the top story with yet another accolade to remember.
Thanks in large part to Pastrnak's performance, the Bruins took down the Philadelphia Flyers, 5-3, at Wells Fargo Center on Sunday evening for their 63rd victory of 2022-23, setting the NHL's all-time mark for wins in a single season.
"It's very special," said Pastrnak. "It's been a lot of fun, I'm not gonna lie. It's been enjoyable, especially with the group we have here. We obviously knew what was at stake. It's definitely special to hit it with the game like this. We made history today in the biggest league in hockey. We definitely appreciate it."
The record, of course, is significant and something to be proud of, but it's hardly the most desirable achievement this group is aiming for. For many in the Bruins dressing room, the records they've piled up along the way during this magical campaign had never before been on their radar.
"Before the year, to be honest, you're not hoping you get the most wins in history, it's just not something you're thinking about," said Charlie Coyle, who opened the scoring just 47 seconds into Sunday's game off a beautiful feed from recalled blue liner Connor Carrick.
"You want to make sure you're playing the right way and build as best you can so when playoff time comes, you're ready to go. That's the real season there. I guess it's just another feather in the cap along the way of a good season. There's certain things that stand out, whether it's the outdoor game [at Fenway], certain individual [accomplishments, Pasta 60, just things that keep adding up and make this season fun and what it is.
"This is just another one of those added things that show you how special of a group this is. We hope this is just the beginning here. But it's definitely something we can take pride in and shows what we've accomplished this year."

With two games left in the regular season, the Bruins' focus is remaining on the task at hand, which for now continues to be rounding their game into form ahead of Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs' opening round sometime next week.
"For our team, it means everything we believe in, being process-oriented, staying in the moment, caring about each other, respecting each other and how hard we play for each other, the word 'team' is exemplified with that group in there," said coach Jim Montgomery.
"We don't talk about winning the Stanley Cup now. We talk about Game 1. That's gonna be our focus…not looking too far ahead, that creates anxiety. We believe in staying present and our process allows us to have success and we have a lot of details within our process.
"That's a simple way of saying that we like to live in the moment. We're not looking at June. We're looking at April 17."

Serving Up 60

Pastrnak's banner evening began at 2:04 of the second period when he gave Boston a 2-1 lead with a wrister from the high slot. The winger followed up with his second of the night - just moments after having a goal waved off for goaltender interference - at 7:31 of the middle frame when he ripped home a one-timer from the top of the circle off a feed from Tyler Bertuzzi (three assists).
Pastrnak capped his 15th hat trick - which moved him past Cam Neely into second place on the B's all-time list behind Phil Esposito (26) - just 39 seconds into the third when he buried a wrister to complete a 2-on-1, give-and-go with Bertuzzi.
"Confidence, creativity, and competitiveness. Those three C's exude form him and then you combine that with an attitude of he's a team first guy, he cares about and loves being a Bruin," said Montgomery. "I think his teammates, as you could tell, when he got two, I think everybody was passing the puck to him."

Pastrnak joined Edmonton's Connor McDavid (64) as the only players with 60 goals this season, which is now just the ninth in NHL history with multiple 60-goal scorers and first since 1995-96, per NHL Stats.
He also became the eighth Czechia native to score 300 career goals and second-fastest (590 games) behind Jaromir Jagr (580). In Bruins history, Pastrnak is only the fourth - and youngest - to score 300 with the club from the start of his career, joining Ray Bourque, Patrice Bergeron, and Brad Marchand.
Per NHL Stats, Pastrnak is the eighth player in NHL history to notch his 300th career goal on a hat trick (first since Ray Whitney with Carolina in 2009) and third to record his 60th of the season on a hatty (Mike Bossy, 1980-81 and Wayne Gretzky, 1981-82).
"There is one great point that actually Marchy told me many, many years ago when I was young," said Pastrnak, who added an assist on Pavel Zacha's insurance marker with 3:04 left for a four-point outing, while landing a game-high 10 shots on goal. "He said, 'you have to always aim 10 goals higher than you think you can get.' So definitely I was aiming at 60, wasn't really thinking that I will get there. It's definitely special…
"I know what kind of player I am in this league right now. I came really close [to getting 50] before Covid. I knew that I can do it and that sometimes it helps with your mindset."

An Emotional Win

Jeremy Swayman made his NHL debut in Philadelphia nearly two years ago to the day (April 6, 2021), making 40 saves for his first career victory during the Covid-shortened 2020-21 campaign. Just a few days later, while back at Wells Fargo Center, Swayman found out that his mentor and University of Maine head coach Red Gendron had passed away suddenly.
So, when Swayman got the start on the anniversary of Gendron's death - in Philadelphia - on Sunday evening, it carried plenty of emotion, making Boston's record-setting win, during which he made 34 saves, that much more special.
"That was in the back of my head all day," said Swayman, who pointed to the sky after the final buzzer sounded. "I wouldn't be here without him. He's taught me more than to be a good hockey player but a better person. Anyone that's come across him knows that knows that he wants to know you as a person and make you better all around. It was amazing how it all worked out to make an NHL record on this day. I miss him a lot."
And while his partner between the pipes, Linus Ullmark, did not travel with the club to Philadelphia, Swayman made sure that Brandon Bussi - dressing for his first NHL game - felt part of the traditional victory celebration.
"We wouldn't be here without Linus. He is such a huge part of this team. I love hugging him. I was a little bummed that he wasn't gonna make the trip but it was awesome," said Swayman. "Bus came in. He was iffy and I said, 'come over here.' It was awesome to embrace. We're all in this together. Everyone in this locker room today was part of a special day. I hope he feels a big part of it."

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