David Pastrnak scored a hat trick and Linus Ullmark stopped 30-of-32 shots as the Boston Bruins pulled away from the Ottawa Senators for a 6-2 win on Tuesday night at TD Garden.

Pastrnak is now up to 44 goals on the season, and his 17 career hat tricks are nine behind Phil Esposito for the most in Bruins franchise history (h/t

David Pastrnak (17) is now within single digits of tying Phil Esposito (26) for the most hat tricks in Bruins history.

— Ty Anderson (@_TyAnderson) March 20, 2024" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ty Anderson). Ullmark, meanwhile, won his third straight start to improve to 19-7-7 on the season, nabbing the win as the Bruins got out-shot 32-26. The Bruins ultimately got the closeout they needed with a 3-0 third period.

Pastrnak got the scoring started for the Bruins at the 8:27 mark of the first period, with an impressive tip-in well away from his body off a shot attempt by Matt Grzelcyk.

Pastrnak’s second goal was unassisted, unless you count by the Senators’ Tim Stützle. Capitalizing on an ill-advised cross-ice breakout attempt, Pastrnak snatched the puck and streaked right up the middle for a breakaway and a backhand score.

• Ottawa climbed back in it during the second period, starting with a power play goal by Shane Pinto, taking advantage of an interference call against Bruins newcomer Andrew Peeke. Pinto cycled backward into open ice, where teammate Claude Giroux found him for the one-timer to make it 2-1.

  Shane Pinto cuts the Bruins' lead in half on the powerplay! pic.twitter.com/tQMEEod7jS

  — TSN (@TSN_Sports) March 20, 2024

• Later in the second period, the Bruins answered with a power play goal of their own by big winger Justin Brazeau, who gathered a rebound at the net-front and finished to give the B’s a two-goal lead again.

  5️⃣5️⃣ from out front. pic.twitter.com/20AEzvwvYm

  — Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) March 20, 2024

• However, as they’ve often done this season, the Bruins failed to escape the period without giving up a late goal. This time, Sens captain Brady Tkachuk found an open lane to the net and made Ullmark pay for sloppy glove work to grab a goal with just four seconds left.

  Pure 👏 Effort 👏#GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/t3feYjCZ8d

  — Ottawa Senators (@Senators) March 20, 2024

• Pastrnak completed his hat trick just 4:43 into the third period, darting toward the loose puck and ripping a laser of a backhand past Senators goaltender Joonas Korpisalo to make it 4-2. In retrospect, this was the moment that the Bruins really seized momentum in the game.

  HAT TRICK 1️⃣7️⃣ FOR 8️⃣8️⃣ pic.twitter.com/o9ZyE1g8qr

  — Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) March 20, 2024

• Just 25 seconds after Pastrnak’s third, Bruins forward Jesper Boqvist made it 5-2 with a strong individual effort off a neutral zone pass from Johnny Beecher.

  Boqy on the breakaway 👌 pic.twitter.com/zQkmVZEa25

  — Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) March 20, 2024

• From there, the Bruins essentially sat on the lead and ran the clock out, but they did get a late power play – and scored again. And again it was Brazeau, who made a nifty pivot with the puck to the net-front for his second of the night.

  Justin Brazeau with his second power-play goal of the game. 6-2 #NHLBruins at 18:06 of the third period. pic.twitter.com/8F5u7c8Jwt

  — Belle Fraser (@bellefraser1) March 20, 2024

  Up Next: The Bruins will remain at home Thursday night, when they have a big inter-conference matchup against the New York Rangers.

  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. Check out all of Matt’s content.