Boston Bruins: Top line dominates Florida to end losing streak

Patrice Bergeron, David Pastrnak, and Brad Marchand stepped up when the Boston Bruins needed them most.

The Boston Bruins headed to Florida desperate for a victory to end the road trip. You need your best players to step up in times like this, and that exactly was the case Saturday night against the Panthers.

The Bruins saw their five-game losing streak end thanks to a 4-2 victory. Or should we say thanks to the first line?

Boston’s first line dominated the Panthers from start to finish. It was the line’s most impressive performance since Patrice Bergeron‘s return from injury. He and linemates David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand combined for two goals and three assists in the game.

Pastrnak was the first star of the night with two goals. He continues to lead the entire NHL with 28 goals on the season.

Bergeron and Marchand assisted on his last goal, and Marchand picked up an assist on Pastrnak’s first goal. This goal was the prettiest play of the night.

Marchand had the puck high in the zone on the power play, and he held it to freeze the Florida defense. He then fired a pass to Pastrnak out front, who only had to redirect into the empty goal. The Panthers had no chance.

This was a big goal for the Bruins for a few reasons. First, it gave Boston a three-goal lead and all but ensured a victory for the night. The game wasn’t over, but you have to expect a good result whenever you go up by three.

Second, the goal gave Boston’s power play some much-needed life after its recent struggles. The Bruins power play needed a spark, and this goal provided that.

Bruins top line seals the deal in the third period

As impressive as that goal was, the Bergeron line made a bigger difference in the third period. The Panthers score two goals in the first half of the period to cut the lead to 3-2. This brought up flashbacks to Florida’s four-goal comeback the last time these two teams played.

The Bruins struggled to make plays in the third, but that top line settled things down with some quality shifts. They were the only forwards who could muster up any offense, and fittingly they sealed the game with an empty-net goal.

Bergeron won an important defensive-zone faceoff right to Marchand, who found Pastrnak as he broke out of the zone. Pastrnak then fired a shot into the vacant net to extend the lead to 4-2.

Empty net goals always look easy, but this one encapsulates the first line’s night more than anything else. Bergeron, Marchand, and Pastrnak all played a crucial role to end the game and the losing streak.

All in all, Bergeron, Marchand, and Pastrnak combined for five points on the night, and they finished with an incredible 18 shots on goal. The Panthers had no answers for Boston’s top trio.

The Bruins needed a big win to finish the road trip, and their best players delivered. Expect this to continue when Boston heads back home next week.