The Boston Bruins looked incredible during the 2022-23 regular season.
They also had a 3-1 series lead in the first round against the Florida Panthers, but something happened. The Bruins lost three straight games, and now, the epic collapse could repeat itself.
The Bruins lost Game 6 against the Maple Leafs 2-1 on Thursday, and they need a win in Game 7 at TD Garden to save their season and avoid elimination after holding a 3-1 lead for the second year straight.
And if they want to keep their postseason alive, they need more of David Pastrnak. The superstar had 47 goals and 110 points in 82 regular-season games this year. But he’s been underwhelming in the playoffs so far.
He has two goals and two assists in six playoff games—compared to players like Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon, who have 12 and 9 points, respectively.
Since the Bruins went up 3-1 in the series, Pastrnak has played two straight games without getting on the scoresheet, and after the 2-1 loss on Thursday, he was publicly called out by head coach Jim Montgomery.
”Your best players need to be your best players this time of year,” he said postgame.
”I think the effort is tremendous. They need to come through with some big-time plays and some big-time moments. Marchand has done that in the series. Pasta needs to step up.”
It’s not often Jim Montgomery has publicly criticized his players during the past two seasons, but he feels something needs to happen.
”He needs to be the dominant player we’re used to,” Montgomery said. “He’s doing it in flurries. He’s not doing it as consistently as he did in the regular season. His linemates need to help him, too. We’re not as good of an offensive team right now as we were in the regular season. Neither is Toronto.”
Pastrnak himself had no answer to why he’s looking ice-cold at the moment.
“I don’t know,” Pastrnak said. “Maybe I don’t get enough shots. Maybe I should have a little bit more of a shooting mentality.”
Pastrnak needs to do something, otherwise, there’s a chance that Bruins will become the first team in NBA, NHL, and MLB history to blow 3-1 series leads in back-to-back seasons.
