David Pastrnak’s 17th career hat trick led the Boston Bruins to a 6-2 win over the visiting Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night.
Pastrnak scored twice in the first period before capping his second three-goal performance of the season with a third-period goal — his 44th tally of the season — that allowed Boston to create separation.
Boston rookie Justin Brazeau registered his first career two-goal game, and Jesper Boqvist also lit the lamp. Kevin Shattenkirk dished out three assists for the Bruins, and Morgan Geekie added two.
Linus Ullmark made 21 of his 30 saves in the second period to nab the win for the Bruins, their sixth in eight games (6-1-1).
Shane Pinto and Brady Tkachuk each lit the lamp and Joonas Korpisalo made 20 stops in Ottawa’s second straight loss following a three-game winning streak.
Ottawa had a 32-26 shot advantage. Boston was 2-for-2 on the power play while the Senators were 1-for-4.
Boston overcame a sluggish start for both teams and took a 1-0 lead on its second shot on goal of the night at the 8:27 mark. Pastrnak, outside the crease, deflected in Matt Grzelcyk’s shot from the top of the left circle.
Pastrnak did it all by himself on the Bruins’ second goal, intercepting Tim Stutzle’s centering attempt in Ottawa’s offensive zone and taking the puck all the way up the middle of the ice for a breakaway at 11:23.
Ottawa was able to use its third man advantage to make it a 2-1 game at 13:08 of the second period. Pinto slammed home Claude Giroux’s pass from the right circle back to the slot.
Brazeau and Boston’s second power-play unit added an insurance goal with just 1:09 left in the second, as he picked up the rebound of Shattenkirk’s shot from the high slot.
Boston’s two-goal lead was short-lived, however, as Tkachuk banged in a net-front rebound with just 2.3 seconds left before the second intermission.
At 4:43 of the third, Pastrnak capped the hat trick when he let go a no-look backhand shot from the low left circle after Shattenkirk sent a pass through traffic.
The Bruins only needed 25 seconds to extend their lead to three as John Beecher set up Boqvist for a net drive in transition, and Boqvist slipped a forehand shot between the post and Korpisalo’s skate.
Brazeau’s second was a power-play goal at the doorstep with 1:54 left.
–Field Level Media
