Pastrnak's Goal Got Them Going

BOSTON - On the outside, David Pastrnak looked cool and composed.
Midway through the first period on Thursday night, the winger cruised to the net, dangled through a defender, and deked around the Oilers' goalie to finish off what has quickly become an early candidate for goal of the year.
But on the inside, it was a completely different story.

"Absolutely panic mode," the 22-year-old said after the game.
As frantic as things may have been in his mind, Pastrnak settled things down enough to notch his fourth goal of the young season with ease. And in doing so, ignited his teammates - and the 17,565 in attendance at TD Garden.
"Who doesn't appreciate a move like that?" said Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy. "You don't like it against you, but it was a hell of a play. It was a high-end skilled play."

Pastrnak's highlight-reel power-play tally set off an offensive explosion for the Bruins, who potted three goals within a 5:57 span of the first period en route to a 4-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers.
"It's huge - and to see his little celebration after is pretty funny," said Matt Grzelcyk, who notched a career-high two assists, including the primary helper on Pastrnak's marker. "Definitely gets the crowd involved and gets the guys pumped up as well, and kind of allows the rest of the guys to play a little bit more comfortable."
Grzelcyk precipitated Pastrnak's trickery with a timely pinch along the boards from the left point, chipping the puck to the winger, who gloved it down and wheeled towards the slot - where the real magic began. Churning his feet, Pastrnak pulled off a sensational through-the-legs toe drag, undressing Edmonton defenseman Matt Benning as he headed to the net
"It was good to be able to get in the middle [of the ice] after a broken play," said Pastrnak. "Their [defensemen] had a bad gap, so I figured I would try that and then I just got working to the net."
On his way there, he nearly lost control of the puck, but corralled it on his backhand and proceeded on his way. Pastrnak finished things off with a deke around Oilers goalie Cam Talbot to tie the game, 1-1, and send the Garden faithful into a frenzy.
"We keep the puck alive and we attack the interior," said Cassidy. "What we wanted to do against their PK is get inside, attack their D and see if they can handle us….that was a great goal to get us going. You don't like to give up the first one at home. You have to get it equal as quickly as you can, and he did a great job there."

Just 5:17 after Pastrnak dazzled the crowd, linemate Brad Marchand struck with his first goal of the season off a fortuitous bounce - also on the power play - before Joakim Nordstrom netted his first as a Bruin only 36 seconds later to cap a nifty give-and-go with David Krejci and provided Boston a 3-1 lead late in the first.
"One hundred percent," Pastrnak said of his goal energizing the bench. "Especially we got scored [on] early on and it was really important we got the next two goals…especially the third one - jump [up] by two in the first - can't be easy for the other team. So, it was good. Krech's line played really well which helped us today."
Pastrnak now has six points and four goals - which ranks as the fourth-highest total in the NHL - through four games. After registering 34 and 35 goals, respectively, the last two seasons, the former first-round pick appears to be well on his way to another special campaign and admits to having gained even more confidence after his stellar postseason performance last spring (20 points in 12 games).
"It's a totally different game out there [in the playoffs] and it gives you so much experience, and in the last two years I've got some games under my belt there," said Pastrnak, who is now in his fifth season with the Bruins. "I mean, I don't think I can be nervous like I've been for Game 7 [against Toronto] last year anymore, so it's definitely way more calmed going into the [regular-season] games."

Cassidy sees a player that is not only more confident, but more complete. Pastrnak's time playing alongside Marchand and Patrice Bergeron on Boston's top line has clearly paid dividends for the winger, whose 200-foot game has shown marked improvement in the early going. The chief example being Pastrnak's furious diving backcheck in Buffalo to break up a Sabres' 2-on-1 during the B's win there last Thursday night.
"Time will tell how much of a springboard [the playoff performance] is," said Cassidy. "But he seems to be a lot more of a complete player, takes more pride in that overall part of the 200-foot game team defense. He doesn't want to let Bergy and March down.
"But I do believe he's really brought it to another level. And I think part of that is he's just a stronger person physically, so he's able to battle harder and stay on his feet longer in these battles and win some of these pucks that maybe as a younger guy you thought, 'Well, maybe he's not as dialed in,' but some of it's just maturity."
And while Pastrnak still lights up the rink with his beaming smile and jovial personality, Cassidy also sees a budding leader in the dressing room.
"He's still as personable and goofy as ever around the room, but I do believe he carries himself like more of a leader," said Cassidy. "It's good to see Pasta take charge because he's going to be around the [Jake DeBrusks] and [Ryan] Donatos and those guys. So if he can lead those guys, even though they're similar ages, I think that's important."
And perhaps he can guide them through those a lesson on that toe drag, too.