David Pastrnak scored his third hat-trick of the season as the Boston Bruins edged out the Winnipeg Jets in a nine-goal thriller.
A David Pastrnak hat-trick and a brace from Jake Debrusk eased the Boston Bruins past the Winnipeg Jets 5-4 during an enthralling encounter that had three lead changes at TD Garden on Thursday night.
Goals from Kyle Connor, Andrew Copp, Neal Poink and Mark Scheifele were in vain as the Jets suffered their second defeat, of what’s been a relatively successful four-game road trip.
Winnipeg opened up the scoring with Kyle Connor’s 22nd of the season. The 23-year-old collecting the puck in the defensive zone off Nikolaj Ehlers, easing past Torey Krug before despatching a backhand shot over the glove of Jaroslav Halak.
As the first period unfolded the Bruins gained more of a stranglehold on proceedings. Laurent Brossoit between the pipes for the Jets denied Matt Grzelcyk, Steven Kampher, Jake DeBrusk, and Chris Wagner as the Bruins looked to tie the game.
Sean Kuraly battled along the boards forcing the puck to Joakim Nordstrom, who in turn played the puck from behind the net to David Pasternak who unleashed a one-timer blocker side for his 33rd of the season, improving his point streak to 12 games.
Into the second period and the Winnipeg Jets drew first blood during their first power-play of the game (too many men). Andrew Copp tipping-in Josh Morrissey’s slap shot to put the Jets back in front.
Just three seconds into the Bruins second power play of the night David Pastrnak grabbed his second of the night, with a thunderous one-timer high in the corner to the glove side of Brossoit (2-2).
Jake DeBrusk caught the Jets during a change, stealing the puck at center ice for a breakaway goal (12th of the season) to give the Bruins their first lead of the night (3-2). That joy was short-lived as Neal Poink tied the game during the Jets’ second power play of the night with just 7.5 seconds left in the second period (3-3).
The Jets refused to make it easy for the Bruins, grabbing the lead for the third time 7.50 into the third period. Kyle Connor driving towards the net before Mark Scheifele placed a backhand shot beyond Jaroslav Halak (4-3).
Pastrnak completed his hat trick midway through the period. Jake DeBrusks shot was saved by Brossoit, only for David Krejci to pounce on the rebound before a backhanded pass to Pasternak, who made no mistake from just outside the blue paint (4-4).
DeBrusk’s go-ahead goal (second of the night) 33 seconds later proved to be the game-winner (5-4). The 23-year-old redirecting Charlie McAvoy’s shot for his 13th of the season sending the majority of the 17,500 fans inside of TD Garden ecstatic.
Up next
The Winnipeg Jets entertain the Nashville Predators on Sunday.
The Boston Bruins travel to New York to take on the Islanders on Saturday night.
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