Pastrnak scores hat trick, lifts Bruins past Lightning

BOSTON --David Pastrnak scored with 4:10 remaining in the third period to complete a hat trick, and the Boston Bruins defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 at TD Garden on Thursday.

Pastrnak scored on a rebound in front of the crease for the 12th regular-season hat trick of his NHL career and second of the season. He scored three goals in a 3-2 win against the Philadelphia Flyers on Jan. 13.
"Obviously it's a big win," Pastrnak said. "Our main focus is to focus on our game and grow our game. We have tons of games left. Obviously, to beat a great team like Tampa is a confidence booster. I think at the same time, we deserved to win today. I think we were the better team."
Erik Haula had three assists, and Jeremy Swayman made 22 saves for the Bruins (40-19-5), who move one point ahead of the Lightning and into third place in the Atlantic Division.

"This is the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions, so we're excited we won and played well, but we're not getting ahead of ourselves here," coach Bruce Cassidy said. "We know who Tampa Bay is, they know who they are, and the road runs through them eventually.
"But this is good. It's good for the guys in the room to know that if we play a certain way, we have a chance to beat them and outplay them in certain areas."
Brandon Hagel and Steven Stamkos each scored, and Andrei Vasilevskiy made 36 saves for the Lightning (39-18-6), who have lost three straight and are 2-6-0 in their past eight games.
"Part of you is sitting here, saying 'Hey, we've got a veteran team. We've been there before, won a couple times, and we'll come out of it.' The other part of you is saying, 'Why are we in this at this point in the season?'" coach Jon Cooper said. "Teams go through this. It's 82 games. … We're better than this. If we're going to execute the way we're executing right now, it's not going to get better any time soon."
Hagel made it 1-0 with the first shorthanded goal of his NHL career at 7:11 of the second. He one-timed a pass from Ondrej Palat on a 2-on-1 for his first point with Tampa Bay after being acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks on March 18.
"I think there were spurts in the game where we were on our game, playing well, and there were other times we kind of let it slip away," Lightning forward Anthony Cirelli said. "We're battling out there, and sometimes it doesn't go your way. So, we've got to keep working, and get back at it."
Pastrnak tied it 1-1 at 9:55, finishing a forehand-backhand move on a breakaway after a lob pass from Haula.

Stamkos gave Tampa Bay a 2-1 lead at 3:51 of the third period, collecting a loose puck in the slot.
"I have a job on this team, and part of my job is to score goals," said Stamkos, who ended an eight-game goal drought. "That hasn't been going well, so to get one tonight was nice. Hopefully, I'll build on that."
Pastrnak tied it 2-2 at 8:17 with a backhand from the side of the net.
Lightning defenseman Ryan McDonagh left the game with an injury after blocking a shot in the third period. Cooper said after the game it "doesn't look good."
Defenseman Hampus Lindholm had one assist, four shots on goal and four hits in 23:26 of ice time in his debut with Boston after being acquired from the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday. He was playing in his first game since March 15.
"I love that feeling of having butterflies and being a little nervous. … It's good to get the first game under my belt, and get a win," Lindholm said. "Like I said in the interview between periods, my girlfriend says I look good in black and yellow, so that's all I need to hear."
NOTES: Lindholm became the first defenseman to record a point in their Bruins debut since Charlie McAvoy in 2017-18 (one goal, one assist). … Pastrnak recorded his 44th career multi-goal game since entering the NHL in 2014-15. Only Alex Ovechkin (72) and Auston Matthews (50) have more in that span. Ovechkin is the only NHL player to have hat tricks (15) than Pastrnak in that span, too. … Pastrnak is tied with Johnny Bucyk for the third most hat tricks (12) in Bruins history. Only Phil Esposito (26) and Cam Neely (14) have more with the franchise. … Lightning forward Brayden Point skated in his 400th career game. … Swayman has won 10 of his past 11 starts. … Vasilevskiy has lost three straight starts and is 2-5-0 in his past seven.