Bruins beat Blackhawks on Pastrnak’s game-winner with 17 seconds left
The Boston Bruins won for the third time in their last four games with a 4-3 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night at TD Garden, thanks to a clutch goal by David Pastrnak with just 17 seconds left in regulation.
Charlie Coyle got the B’s on the board first, his 13th goal of the season. Coyle made multiple effort plays to create his own scoring chance, first to corral the puck in the neutral zone and then to keep it away from the Blackhawks along the half boards. Defenseman Connor Clifton dashed aggressively through the slot and his shot deflected perfectly back to Coyle, who ripped it from the left faceoff circle to give Boston the 1-0 lead.
Chicago answered just 2:29 later, after the Blackhawks took advantage of an aggressive pinch by Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo to create a 4-on-1 rush. Patrick Kane found Alex DeBrincat cross-ice for the one-timer score. After the teams took a 1-1 tie to the first intermission, Brandon Hagel scored just over four minutes into the second period, beating Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman to the far post for the wrap-around goal, making it 2-1 Blackhawks.
The Bruins would mount a quick-strike comeback later in the second period, thanks to a pair of power plays. The tying goal came on the first career NHL goal for defenseman Jack Ahcan, who slipped into open ice in the slot and fired a hard wrister past the Blackhawks’ Kevin Lankinen.
Just 3:26 later, Pastrnak rocketed a one-timer home to give the Bruins a 3-2 lead, finishing a sharp cross-ice feed from Charlie McAvoy. The red-hot Pastrnak is up to 33 goals on the season, and has scored 24 goals in 32 games since the calendar flipped to 2022.
Hagel’s second of the game on a power play set the stage for Pastrnak’s late game-winner. Swayman, who wasn’t at his sharpest overall with three goals allowed on 25 shots, came through with eight saves after the Hagel goal in the third.
Up Next: The Bruins (35-18-5) get the Arizona Coyotes next, on Saturday at TD Garden.
Click here for complete Boston Bruins coverage at 985TheSportsHub.com.
Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Yell at him on Twitter @mattdolloff and follow him on Instagram @mattydsays. You can also email him at mdolloff@985thesportshub.com.
