Pastrnak Wins It in the Shootout as Bruins Edge Vegas 3-2 on Military Appreciation Night
Hagens and Geekie built a 2-0 lead, Vegas battled back on goals by Mark Stone and Trevor Connelly, and David Pastrnak was the only shooter to score in the shootout.
On Military Appreciation Night at TD Garden, the Bruins went to a shootout to get past the Vegas Golden Knights. Boston led 2-0 in the second period and Vegas came all the way back, but David Pastrnak scored the only goal of the shootout and Jeremy Swayman stopped all three Vegas shooters. Final: Bruins 3, Golden Knights 2.
Boston moves to 11-4-1 with 23 points and 7-1-0 at home. That puts the Bruins first in the Atlantic Division on points (23 to Montreal's 20) and on points percentage (.719 to .714). Vegas gets a point and goes to 9-5-2.
Hagens opens it
James Hagens scored at 7:23 of the first, at even strength, assisted by Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov. It was his sixth goal of the season, and he turns 20 tomorrow.
Geekie on the major
Early in the second, Vegas forward Braeden Bowman got a five-minute major for elbowing and a game misconduct at 2:49. Boston scored 34 seconds into the major when Morgan Geekie made it 2-0 at 3:23, with assists from Pavel Zacha and Pastrnak. That was Geekie's third goal of the season.
Vegas comes back
Charlie McAvoy went off for holding at 14:50 of the second, and Mark Stone scored on the power play eight seconds later, at 14:58. Tomas Hertl and Mitch Marner had the assists, and it was Stone's 10th goal of the season. Trevor Connelly tied it 2-2 at 7:23 of the third, at even strength, from Noah Hanifin and Marner. Nobody scored in the rest of regulation or in overtime.
Shootout
Swayman stopped Connelly, Jack Eichel and Marner. Carter Hart stopped forward Casey Mittelstadt and Fraser Minten. Pastrnak shot last for Boston and scored the winner.
In net
Swayman made 21 saves on 23 shots for the win. Hart made 25 saves on 27 shots in his return after missing two games with a lower-body injury, and took the shootout loss. Boston outshot Vegas 27-23.
Stat of the Night
953
Career regular-season points for Pastrnak after his assist on Geekie's goal. He's 47 away from 1,000. His shootout goal doesn't count as a point.
- 1-for-4: Boston on the power play; Vegas went 1-for-3
- 22-19: Boston's edge in faceoffs
- 28-14: Vegas' edge in hits
Three stars
1. David Pastrnak (BOS): an assist, plus the shootout winner. 2. James Hagens (BOS): the opening goal. 3. Mitch Marner (VGK): two assists.
What it means
Boston blew a two-goal lead, but the Bruins still took two points from a good Vegas team. They're now on top of the Atlantic on points and on points percentage. Hagens now has 12 points (6G, 6A) in 16 games, and Geekie has 11 (3G, 8A). Next up, the Bruins visit the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday, Nov. 5, at 7 p.m. ET. Let's go, B's! 🐻