NHL: David Pastrnak, first Bruins player since Cam Neely to score 50 goals

David Pasternak He became the first Boston Bruins player to score 50 goals since Cam Neely in 1993-94. The Bruins defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 4-3 in a shootout for their seventh consecutive win.

It wasn’t long before Pastrnak reached this important plateau. Basta came into her own in front of Fredrik Andersen and surprised him between the pads by dropping the puck.

The 26-year-old Czech became the second player this season in the NHL to score 50 goals after Connor McDavid, who already has 60 goals. His 50th goal allowed him to collect the 600th point of his career in his 583rd game. He is the third fastest player in Bruins history to reach that mark after Bobby Orr (461) and Raymond Bourque (569).

The Bruins forward didn’t want to stop at 50. On a power play, Pastrnak fired a one-timer to give his team a 2-1 lead, less than 90 seconds after a Jack Drury goal. Charlie McAvoy had a second assist in the game.

Jacob Lauko doubled the Bruins’ lead after just two minutes. However, Lauko had to leave the game in the third period after falling heavily against the ramp.

The Hurricanes fell back by two, quickly closing the gap early in the third. Brady Skegee and Sebastian Ahu beat Jeremy Swaiman in 2:07 to put both teams back at square one.

After an amazing overtime period, in which both teams had good scoring opportunities, the Bruins outplayed the Canes in a shootout. Charlie Coyle and Jake Debrusek eluded Andersen’s wake, while attempts by Brent Burns and Tevo Travinen were stopped by Swaiman.

The Bruins goaltender earned his 20th victory of the season with a career-high 34 saves. Andersen was knocked out despite making 35 saves.

In this duel between the two best teams in the East, the Bruins fielded a dwindling lineup in Raleigh. Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, Hampus Lindholm and Derek Voorbut retired from the match. However, this is nothing serious for the four Bruins players.