Pastrnak Scores Hat Trick, Bruins Make Improbable Comeback To Stun Hurricanes 6-4
The Bruins made a stunning comeback on Tuesday night, battling back from down 4-1 in the third period to win 6-4 over the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena in Raleigh.
After going up 1-0 late in the first period, the Bruins followed that up with one of their ugliest periods of the season by giving up three in the second. After going down 4-1 early in the third, the game felt decided.
But suddenly, the B’s exploded for three goals in a span of just 1:17 to tie the game in the proverbial blink of an eye. David Pastrnak scored two of the three goals, and added his third to complete the hat trick on an empty-netter to make it 6-4.
In all, the Bruins scored five goals in a span of 8:22 in the third period to get one of their most shocking victories of the season. For two periods, it felt like a lost night for the B’s with Tuukka Rask under siege and the Bruins getting outplayed in all three zones. But the B’s once again showed their resilience, which feels more special with each win.
Highlights
The Bruins’ best-looking goal may have been their first. Brad Marchand opened the scoring when he buried a sneaky backhand feed from David Pastrnak with just 10 seconds left in the opening period.
Unfortunately for the B’s, they couldn’t get anything going in the second period. The ‘Canes scored four unanswered after Marchand’s 30th tally of the season. But fast forward to the third frame, and it’s time for the Bruins to go to another level.
First, Matt Grzelcyk gathered the puck from a battle won by Sean Kuraly and took it to the goal, where he fired it by Cam Ward to cut the ‘Canes’ lead to 4-2.
Pastrnak’s first of the game officially made things interesting, ripping an absolute snipe short-side over Ward’s shoulder.
To tie the game, David Krejci made an eye-popping play to collect a fluttering puck and spark a 2-on-1. He found Danton Heinen streaking down the middle as the latter buried it to make it 4-4.
And with just 3:30 left in regulation, Pastrnak fired an absolute rocket past Ward on a power play to put the Bruins on top 5-4 and finish off the comeback.
Pastrnak is up to 27 goals on the season. He more than made up for an awful turnover during a power play early in the third period, which led to the Hurricanes’ fourth goal.
The Bruins (44-16-8, 96 points) head to Sunrise, Florida next to finally face the Panthers for the first time this season on Thursday.
