Leading 2-1 entering the third period Thursday night against the Buffalo Sabres, the Boston Bruins were in a position to extend their winning streak to six games, but following a lack-luster second period, the one-goal lead didn’t feel like all that safe.
Over the last couple of weeks, there has been noticeable frustration with David Pastrnak and Nick Ritchie with their lack of scoring. Pastrnak snapped a drought last Friday night in a win over the New York Islanders, but Ritchie has failed to find the back of the net in his last 13 games.
That all changed early in the third period against the Sabres.
Pastrnak gave the Bruins a two-goal lead at the 4:55 mark with a wicked wrist shot. He collected a loose puck at center ice, cut into the Buffalo zone, across the slot between the dots ripped a wrist shot back across the grain for his 18th goal of the season.
A little breathing room. 🍝 #NHLBruins | @pastrnak96 pic.twitter.com/P8IlGWIlYV
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) April 23, 2021
While it was nice to Pasta’s goal, what was even more encouraging was what happened 1:06 later. The Bruins third-line of Charlie Coyle-Jake DeBrusk-Ritchie, which has been noticeably absent in recent weeks, got on the scoresheet to extend the lead to three goals.
DeBrusk made a pass from the right wall in the Sabres end to a cutting Ritchie who was able to gain control of the puck and beat Buffalo goalie Dustin Tokarski between the near side post and his body for a 4-1 lead.
The third line cashes in.
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) April 23, 2021
Nick Ritchie makes it a 4-1 game. pic.twitter.com/W6ujZUJ23U
Those two goals provided the Black and Gold with some breathing room and took the pressure off of them to play more freely over the final 14 minutes. David Krejci added a late goal to account for the 5-1 final, but in winning their fifth straight game this season against the Sabres, it was good to see the puck go into the net for both Pasta and Ritchie.
Those two goals by Pastrnak and Ritchie were big as they put the game away for Boston and helped them increase their lead over the New York Rangers to eight points for the fourth and final East Division playoff berth. The Rangers lost 3-2 to the Philadelphia Flyers at Madison Square Garden Thursday night.