David Pastrnak scored the go-ahead goal with 5:49 remaining in the third period, leading the Boston Bruins to a 5-3 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night.
Curtis Lazar contributed a goal and an assist, Oskar Steen netted his first career goal, and the Bruins secured their third consecutive win since returning from a COVID-19-induced pause that saw six games postponed.
Trent Frederic and Brandon Carlo also found the net for Boston, with Carlo sealing the win with a goal 23 seconds before the final buzzer. Linus Ullmark made 23 saves for the Bruins, who never trailed and ended New Jersey’s three-game winning streak.
“We’ve been playing some great hockey these last three games. Hopefully, we can keep going,” Pastrnak said.
Pastrnak’s goal was his first since November 30. Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy recently reconfigured the lines, splitting up the top trio of Pastrnak, Patrice Bergeron, and Brad Marchand to balance the team’s scoring.
“It’s going to take a little bit of time to get chemistry, but our focus is to talk to each other and be better every game,” said Pastrnak, who played on the second line with center Erik Haula and left wing Taylor Hall. Both Haula and Hall assisted on Pastrnak’s goal.
Nathan Bastian, Tomas Tatar, and Damon Severson scored for the Devils, while Mackenzie Blackwood made 29 saves. New Jersey rallied from deficits of 1-0, 2-1, and 3-2 to tie the game but couldn’t respond after Pastrnak scored his ninth of the season from the slot.
“I think we did a lot of good stuff out there. We were battling, and if we keep doing this every game, we could go a long way,” Tatar said. “We are looking much better after the break than we did before. If we’re going to keep repeating the right stuff, the good results will return for us.”
Bastian scored on a breakaway in the opening minute of the second period to tie the game 1-1, but 20 seconds later, Nick Foligno’s shot bounced off Blackwood’s shoulder and landed on top of the net. Steen tapped the puck from under the crossbar, and it bounced off Blackwood’s other shoulder into the net, putting Boston back in front.
Lazar forced a turnover deep in New Jersey’s zone, leading to Frederic’s backhand shot from behind the goal line that banked off Blackwood’s hip for a 3-2 Bruins lead late in the second period.
“That’s one of those games where just a bunch of them went in. I don’t think I’ve ever had that many fluky goals going in one game,” said Blackwood, who let a soft shot by Lazar slip between his pads for Boston’s first goal. “There’s no sense in getting too hung up on it.”
Tatar tied it 2-2 by scoring on a rebound after Jack Hughes’ backhand shot was stopped by Ullmark. Severson then tied it 3-3, breaking out of the penalty box after serving a minor for holding the stick and scoring on a breakaway pass from Michael McLeod.
HAMILTON OUT
The Devils were without defenseman Dougie Hamilton, who is scheduled for surgery on his broken jaw on Wednesday. Hamilton, a former first-round draft pick by the Bruins in 2011, took a puck to the face on Sunday during the Devils’ overtime win in Boston. New Jersey placed Hamilton on injured reserve and did not provide a timetable for his return.
Game Notes
- Steen, recalled from AHL Providence on Saturday, had three assists in four games before scoring his first career goal.
- Devils forward Andreas Johnsson took a puck to the face in the first period but returned to the bench after a few minutes.
- After missing three games, Tatar was activated from the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol list.
- Devils forwards Pavel Zacha and Yegor Sharangovich were placed on the protocol list Tuesday.
- Devils G Jonathan Bernier underwent surgery on his right hip and will miss the remainder of the season.
- Bruins C Karson Kuhlman remained on the protocol list.
UP NEXT
- Devils: Host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night.
- Bruins: Host the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night.
