Boston Bruins: David Pastrnak Has Breakout Game in Season Opener
It’s no secret that David Pastrnak is a talented, young hockey player. It’s also no secret that fans in Boston pegged him to be the perfect linemate for David Krejci. The two share a first name, a native country, and also have similar offensive skill-sets. For Pastrnak, however, the best game in his career to this point came alongside a different David.
With Patrice Bergeron missing the Bruins season opener with an injury, some lineup changes were necessary. Fortunately for the Bruins, the entirety of the projected Krejci line is made up of centers. Between Krejci, David Backes, and Ryan Spooner, the line has versatility and gives head coach Claude Julien some flexibility. With Bergeron down, Julien used that flexibility to great success.
In the Bruins season opener against the Columbus Blue Jackets, Backes was moved back to center. On his flanks were both Brad Marchand and the young Pastrnak. That line instantly clicked, exploding for 12 points, two goals apiece, and Pastrnak’s first career game with three points, though he wasn’t done there.
At the end of the night, Pastrnak scored two goals and recorded two assists. His four points are a new career-high. In the past, Pastrnak has scored two points on 12 separate occasions. As many will remember, two of those games came in succession with Pastrnak scoring two goals apiece in each.
Despite Impressive Start, Pastrnak’s Age Demands Realistic Expectation
The Bruins are counting on a breakout year from the 20-year-old Pastrnak. As it stands, fans and management alike can breathe easy knowing that one game into the year, Pastrnak looks like he can succeed in meeting those expectations.
It’s easy to look at Pastrnak, a third-year player, and expect the world out of him. As mentioned, however, he is still just 20-years-old. As is the case with every player at that age, mistakes will be made. It’s almost guaranteed that there will be streaks where Pastrnak fails to record goals, or points. With that in mind, it’s important to remember that Pastrnak is still a player who isn’t even close to reaching the prime of his career.
As long as Pastrnak continues to put the work in and show consistent effort, the opportunities will be there for him. For a Bruins team looking to make the playoffs for the first time in three years, they’ll be banking on Pastrnak to take advantage of these opportunities as best as he can. The whole team, however, will also need to step up; including a new-look defense filled to the brim with young, though ultimately inexperienced, talent.
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