David Pastrnak started the season red-hot, but he since cooled off. How does he contribute to the team when he doesn’t score?
In his first 34 games, David Pastrnak recorded 28 goals for his Boston Bruins. That’s on pace for 65 goals. However, if 90% of players were able to maintain their goal-scoring pace from the first two months of the season, we would have 70-goal scorers every campaign.
Last year, Pastrnak had 19 goals in 28 games (pace for 55 goals) but finished the year with 38 goals. In the 2016-17 season, Pastrnak had 19 goals in 28 contests and finished the season with 34 goals.
For the Czech right-winger, to have a scorching-hot goal-scoring touch at the beginning of the year, but then cool off a bit, is nothing unusual. During the most recent Bruins’ homestand, Pastrnak went goalless in all four games at TD Garden.
Without being able to score in bunches like he did in the beginning of the season, how does Pastrnak contribute to this team? Even with the lack of goals, Pastrnak still manages to pick up a lot of assists.
Pastrnak showcases his playmaking skills for the Bruins
Last Saturday against the Nashville Predators, Pastrnak wasn’t as noticeable. Nevertheless, the Bruins needed to at least force overtime with the goalie pulled. It was the 23-year-old forward who set up Patrice Bergeron for the perfect redirection past Pekka Rinne to even the game up. The delivery from Pastrnak was sweet and right on Bergeron’s tape.
On Monday against the pesky Washington Capitals, Pastrnak didn’t score again but recorded a three-assist night. Firstly, he helped Brad Marchand carry the puck over the Caps’ blue line as Marchand beat Braden Holtby to open the score.
Secondly, once again, Pastrnak served a sweet dish on Bergeron’s tape on the power play, which was the eventual game-winner. Lately, Pastrnak’s tallies are hard to come. Nevermind, those passes to Bergeron were worth half a goal, if not more.
Bergeron, unmarked, also thanks to the excellent vision of Pastrnak, had to just put his stick in the position to redirect the puck. We’ve seen Bergeron score from this spot in the offensive zone over the years.
Then, Pastrnak wasn’t bothered about challenging Tom Wilson. Yes, maybe Pastrnak won´t score three goals per game each night, but at least he is compensating for it. Sometimes, fans forget that he has immense skills and doesn’t solely possess the ability to net the goals.