The Boston Bruins and Anaheim Ducks were both looking for their fifth win in their first six games of the season when they faced each other in a in Columbus Day matinee at TD Garden in Boston on Monday.
Boston was playing their second straight game of a three game homestand at the Garden to open up their 2019-20 home schedule. The Bruins got off to a good start. On the powerplay at 4:18 of the first Torey Krug kept the puck in at the blue line and passed it down low in the slot to Patrice Bergeron between the circles. Bergeron quickly made a backhand pass to a wide open David Pastrnak standing in the faceoff circle to the right of Anaheim goalie John Gibson. Pastrnak let go a quick shot that found the back of the net to make it 1-0.
The score remained the same into the second period. Boston goalie Jaroslav Halak made several key stops to keep the Bruins up by a goal. Anaheim had the best opportunity on a breakaway by Ondrej Case with 11:30 left. Case tried to deke Halak going forehand to backhand, but the Boston goalkeeper stopped it with his right pad to maintain the lead. Just over three minutes later Pastrnak got his second of the day to increase the lead. After a turnover forced by Brad Marchand the winger moved in 2 on 1 with Pastrnak putting a perfect tape to tape pass on the stick of Pastrnak who one timed it home to make it 2-0 at 11:38. Rickard Rakell got the Ducks on the board at 17:52 with a wristshot that eluded Halak to cut the deficit in half. Despite leaving the period with the lead the hosts were outplayed and outshot 16-6 in the 20 minute frame.
Boston and the play of Pastrnak put the game away early in the third period. After killing off an Anaheim powerplay to begin the period Pastrnak recorded the hat trick off a faceoff win. The loose puck off a would find him in the bottom of the left faceoff circle where he snapped off a quick shot at 2:20 to make it 3-1. 2:14 later Pastrnak continued his onslaught tapping in a shot from Marchand with the Ducks goalie Gibson out of position. Anaheim (4-2-0) got a gift wrapped goal from Adam Henrique on a misplay and turnover by Halak at 16:08 to end the scoring.
Halak (2-1-0) made 30 saves to pick up the win in net. Krug and Marchand with two assists each joined Pastrnak as the multiple point scorers on the day for the 5-1-0 Bruins. Gibson made 19 saves in the loss for the Ducks who went 0-5 on the powerplay. Boston was 2-3 on the day with the extra man. Pastrnak now has a four game point streak with six goals and four assists for 10 points. Boston will host Tampa Bay on Thursday night at 7 pm.
