David Pastrnak (3 points), Bruins fend off pesky Coyotes

Field Level Media|published: Sat 9th December, 15:56 2023

Dec 9, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman Ian Mitchell (14) center Matthew Poitras (51) center Oskar Steen (62) and defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk (12) celebrate after a goal by right wing David Pastrnak (88) against the Arizona Coyotes during the first period at TD Garden. credits: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

David Pastrnak's two goals and an assist helped the Boston Bruins hold off the visiting Arizona Coyotes 5-3 on Saturday afternoon.

Charlie Coyle, Kevin Shattenkirk and Danton Heinen also scored for Boston, which has won four of its last five games and 10 straight home meetings with Arizona in regulation.

Linus Ullmark made 31 saves in his second consecutive start.

The Bruins took a 3-0 lead before surrendering two quick-fire goals in the middle frame, and two successful third-period penalty kills were the difference.

Clayton Keller, Michael Carcone and Lawson Crouse scored for the Coyotes, who had a 34-29 advantage in shots.

Connor Ingram (24 saves) suffered Arizona's second straight loss following a five-game win streak.

Brad Marchand had scored the Bruins' last five goals before Pastrnak gave them a 1-0 lead with 4:38 remaining in the first, winning a battle behind the net and scoring from low on the left side.

Coyle doubled the Boston lead when he tapped home Trent Frederic's feed off a glaring Sean Durzi turnover just 48 seconds later.

Boston, which was scoreless during 1:12 of five-on-three time earlier in the period, nearly had a third goal as Pastrnak rang both posts on a give-and-go with Marchand less than a minute after Coyle's tally.

Shattenkirk increased the Bruins' edge to 3-0, firing Pastrnak's perfect cross-ice pass into an open net on the power play only 2:02 into the middle frame.

The Coyotes responded less than a minute later with two goals in a 33-second span to make it 3-2. Keller lit the lamp first at the 2:50 mark, taking Jason Zucker's feed for a laser of a shot from the left dot.

Carcone picked up a loose puck at center ice and whipped in Arizona's second goal at 3:22.

Boston re-established its two-goal lead at 9:11 as Heinen shot the puck through a screening defender after linemate Matt Poitras pushed it up the wall.

Arizona moved within 4-3 at 3:20 of the third when Crouse slotted home Matias Maccelli's quick pass through traffic in the slot.

Pastrnak potted his second goal of the game with 5:31 left, grabbing the rebound of a Morgan Geekie backhand off Ingram's pads.

Boston forward Pavel Zacha left the game with an upper-body injury and did not return following the first period.

—Field Level Media

Latest