Tag: David Pastrnak

Video shows David Pastrnak appearing to get permission from Bruins coach before a brutal Matthew Tkachuk fight

This was unexpected, but what a fight!

This is a perfect playoff hockey moment.

David Pastrnak isn’t known as one to drop the gloves as the biggest star and goal-scorer on the Boston Bruins. But in the Game 2 loss to the Florida Panthers, he decided it was time to go after the physical forward. And in a video from the game, it looks like Pastrnak asked Bruins coach Jim Montgomery for permission to do it, and he appeared to get the nod.

At that point, the game was over, so it was largely symbolic. But still, that’s a noteworthy moment and maybe it turns things around after a 6-1 loss. Pastrnak later said he wasn’t afraid of Tkachuk.

NHL fans ripped Mitch Marner for his awful back-checking effort on the Bruins’ Game 7 winning goal

Mitch Marner has some explaining to do.

The Toronto Maple Leafs had an incredible 3-1 series comeback over the Boston Bruins in hand. Then they went, and Leafs’d it all up (yes, we’re making that a verb now). And well, of course, they did!

With their season on the line, with one unlucky and bad bounce capable of sending them home, the Maple Leafs got caught sleeping at the worst possible time in the early stages of overtime in Saturday night’s Game 7. Specifically, while various Toronto players froze while back-checking, it’s Mitch Marner’s that is the hardest to overlook.

That’s because he got caught puck-watching while his man, Boston’s David Pastrnak, skated right behind him to get in position for the game-winning goal. The sequence remains so brutal on every rewatch if you’re a Toronto fan:

While Pastrnak deserves credit for the skillful finish — and yes, it was an unlucky bounce for Toronto — it’s hard not to wonder what happens if Marner doesn’t fall asleep at the wheel. These are the kinds of “little” plays that hockey players have no choice but to make if they want their team’s season to continue. Instead, in the biggest moment of the Maple Leafs’ season, Marner froze, and that was just enough to let the Bruins and Pastrnak sneak by.

(Note: Marner also had just three points in the seven-game series. He is a first-line player for Toronto. Yikes.)

Despite an incredibly talented core of players on paper, the Maple Leafs now have seven first-round losses in the postseason since 2017. The franchise has not advanced past the second round since 2002. With players like Marner making basic mistakes like this, it’s not too hard to see why this time of year remains a veritable torture chamber for Toronto fans.

NHL fans were naturally aghast over Marner’s effort on the Bruins’ game-winning goal:

Hurricanes EBUG Jack LaFontaine hilariously had to watch Game 2 alone from the equipment room

No one bother LaFontaine. He’s just chilling.

The Hurricanes (-120 favorites) entered Game 2 against the Bruins on Wednesday night, expecting that they’d take care of business again.

After a 5-1 drubbing of Boston in the first-round series opener — where Antti Raanta was dynamite with 35 saves on 36 shots — what could go wrong? This outcome was written in the stars.

One problem: Raanta had to stay healthy.

Around halfway through the opening period, Boston’s David Pastrnak chased after a loose puck and inadvertently ran into Raanta. It did not look great for the Finnish goalie.

The Hurricanes would officially designate Raanta with an “upper-body injury,” and he did not return.

That meant it was up to backup Pyotr Kochetkov to step in and for Jack LaFontaine to become Carolina’s EBUG (a.k.a. emergency backup goaltender). And while Kochetkov ended up putting in an admirable 30-save performance, it was LaFontaine who clearly had the time of his life sitting in the Hurricanes’ locker room:

Now that looks like a guy just vibing in the back room. Not a care in the world. But wait, why couldn’t LaFontaine join the rest of the Carolina roster on the bench?

Here’s a great explanation:

That adds up. LaFontaine can only come in during a complete goaltending disaster for his team. No notes.

Thankfully for the Hurricanes, and LaFontaine, they avoided said disaster as they eventually beat the Bruins 5-2 to take a 2-0 series lead. Hey, no one said the same goalie(s) had to be around for destiny to come true!

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Los Angeles Kings at Boston Bruins odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Tuesday’s Los Angeles Kings at Boston Bruins sports betting odds and lines, with NHL betting picks, tips and best bets.

The Los Angeles Kings (14-18-3) and Boston Bruins (21-7-6) lock horns at TD Garden at 7 p.m. ET Tuesday. We analyze the Kings-Bruins sports betting odds and lines, with NHL matchup analysis, picks and tips.

Kings at Bruins: Projected starting goalies

Jonathan Quick vs. Tuukka Rask

Quick kicked off the road trip with a win in Anaheim on Thursday, but he took it on the chin in Pittsburgh in a 5-4 shootout loss Saturday, making 23 saves on 27 shots. He enters 9-12-2 overall with a 3.06 goals against average and .891 save percentage.

Rask comes into Tuesday 13-4-3 with a 2.24 GAA and .926 SV% and two shutouts. The Finnish native enters on a personal three-game losing skid, going 0-2-1, including a home loss against the Blackhawks in overtime Dec. 5.

Place a sports bet on this hockey action or other games at BetMGM.

Kings at Bruins: Odds, picks and betting tips

Odds courtesy of BetMGM; access them at USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated at 10:15 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Bruins 5, Kings 2

Moneyline (ML)

The Bruins (-250) are going to win this game, but risking two-and-a-half times the return is just not good business. Even if you win five out of every seven of those types of bets you’re still just breaking even despite a 71.4 winning percentage. Not good.

New to sports betting? Every $10 wagered for the Bruins to win in regulation, overtime or a shootout would profit $4 if they do so.

Puck Line/Against the Spread (ATS)

BRUINS (-1.5, +115) on the puck line is the way to go, as they’re at home and Rask is due for a good showing, too. The Kings are the perfect elixir to cure the ills of the B’s, as L.A. is 1-5 in the past six in this series, and 2-5 in the past seven trips to Beantown.

Over/Under (O/U)

The OVER 4.5 (-223) is an intriguing line on BetMGM. Quick has been routinely giving up big goal totals, and the B’s could take care of the total on their own if RW David Pastrnak and company are on their game. It’s worth a roll of the dice.

Want some action on this matchup? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

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