BOSTON — David Pastrnak is the Boston Bruins’ best player. The Bruins go nowhere if opponents hassle No. 88.
So even if it’s an ex-teammate like A.J. Greer giving Pastrnak the business, you better believe the Bruins are going to respond.
“You usually target the other team’s best players,” Brad Marchand said. “So every time he has the puck, they’re going to go after him. But I don’t think they were going at him too hard.”
In the first period of Monday’s 4-3 loss to the Florida Panthers, Greer dumped Pastrnak from behind. Pastrnak crumpled. The No. 1 right wing caught a piece of Jesper Boqvist on his way down.
Pavel Zacha was the nearest Bruin to the pile. Zacha had not scrapped in six seasons, per HockeyFights. But given his proximity to the action and the identity of the player picking himself off the ice, Zacha did not hesitate to challenge his former teammate. Greer, who fought Mark Kastelic in the season opener, was happy to oblige. Greer didn’t have much trouble putting Zacha in his place.
Pavel Zacha objects to A.J. Greer’s hit on Pastrnak and drops the gloves. pic.twitter.com/5vEN6t9TM1
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) October 14, 2024
“Yup, Pasta got hit,” said coach Jim Montgomery. “And I love, I love what Pav did. He went in. Defended him. That’s great.”
It wasn’t the only time the Bruins had Pastrnak’s back. Later in the first, Pastrnak ran over Sam Reinhart and was called for interference. Nate Schmidt didn’t care for Pastrnak’s hit. But an instant after Schmidt got in Pastrnak’s face, Marchand jumped in with his gloves nowhere in sight. Marchand and Schmidt were called for roughing.
Brad Marchand jumps in to defend David Pastrňák from Nate Schmidt after Pasta hit Reinhart 🍿 pic.twitter.com/p9w075ZdEN
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 14, 2024
“Pav did a great job getting in there with Pasta,” said Marchand. “I thought (Schmidt) was going after Pasta too. Those things happen. It’s something we’ve always done, stick up for each other.”
Montgomery had zero beef with the seven penalty minutes Zacha and Marchand totaled for standing tall for Pastrnak. He had a problem with other infractions his players took, including the interference and slashing penalties by Pastrnak. Other boo-boos included a Zacha hook, Charlie McAvoy’s cross-check and Nikita Zadorov’s delay of game.
“It’s just not disciplined,” Montgomery said. “It’s all four games that we take at least four minors. Can’t win hockey games that way.”
Where is Geekie?
Morgan Geekie started the season as the No. 2 right wing. It may be temporary.
Geekie is scoreless through four games. He was demoted from the second line on Monday, replaced by Justin Brazeau. Geekie played just 9:33, his lowest output as a Bruin. He was given only three shifts in the third period. Geekie did not attempt a shot.
On the game-winning goal in the second period, Geekie lost a puck battle to Gustav Forsling in the offensive zone. Seconds later, Anton Lundell fired a far-side shot past Jeremy Swayman.
“They’re the standard right now in the NHL for winning battles,” Montgomery said of the Panthers. “We’re not up to that level yet. We have to vastly improve that level.”
Charlie Coyle, the No. 2 center, is also without a point. Coyle was also dropped to the third line on Monday in favor of Matt Poitras. Coyle landed two shots in a season-low 14:32 of ice time.
Poitras, superb in his season debut against the Los Angeles Kings, was quiet early against the Panthers. Reinhart stripped Poitras in the second for a short-handed goal. But the 20-year-old center looked better in the third period.
Fourth line shining
The Bruins won two of three games on their homestand. The fourth line was as big a reason as any for the four-point sum.
Kastelic, who scored two goals in the home opener against the Montreal Canadiens, put a shot on net on Monday that bumped off Johnny Beecher and past Sergei Bobrovsky. Kastelic and fellow fourth-liner Cole Koepke assisted on Brandon Carlo’s goal by submitting excellent muscle work down low.
“They’re just doing their role,” Montgomery said of Beecher, Kastelic and Koepke. “Guys in the top six aren’t doing their role. They’re doing their role.”
Swayman is building his game
In the first period, after a Mason Lohrei giveaway behind the net, Swayman jammed his blade into the strong-side post to seal off the puck. But as he transitioned into the toe lock, the puck, which may have been sitting on his skate, dribbled over the goal line.
“I think there was a bump behind the net, and I should have been more aware,” said Swayman, who made his third straight start. “I didn’t see the whole replay. Just looked like some weird bobbles. Then I moved my foot like an inch. That’s one I want back. I’ll work on it tomorrow.”
Swayman had no chance on either of Reinhart’s two goals. Lundell was between the dots and off the rush when he scored the winner. It was a timely strike for Lundell, making it a 4-2 game at 12:59 of the second.
Swayman has an .893 save percentage over three starts. He will need time to find his game given how he missed training camp, said goodbye to Linus Ullmark and is playing with the pressure of his contract.
