Pastrnak responds to Montgomery’s challenge in Game 7 win for Bruins

However even when there’s extra to provide — and there’s all through the entire Bruins group, aside from Jeremy Swayman in web — Pastrnak did sufficient on this evening, did sufficient in Recreation 7, did sufficient that the Bruins didn’t undergo a second straight collapse, from up 3-1 in a best-of-7 sequence to dropping in Recreation 7, as they did final season towards the Florida Panthers.

To do this, they wanted Pastrnak. And Montgomery had seen it coming. Effectively, perhaps not that, precisely. However he had seen that Pastrnak was prepared.

“Once I walked on this morning, he had a smile on his face, ear-to-ear,” Montgomery mentioned. “He goes, ‘What’s up, coach? You sleep properly?’ And as quickly as I do know he’s in that state of mind, I knew he was going to be good tonight.”

He was higher all through the sport, his line improved, dedicated to successful their matchups all through the sport. However by no means extra so than simply these two quick minutes into the additional time when his expertise taking part in with Lindholm got here by means of.

As a result of even when Marner didn’t know what Pastrnak was doing, Lindholm did.

“I noticed him swinging, so clearly it was on goal. I hoped it could kick out good for him there. Then the best way he handles that puck and places it over the pads, that’s just a few guys that may try this.”

Pastrnak is one in every of them.

“I don’t understand how he finishes it typically, truthfully,” Boston ahead Charlie Coyle mentioned. “I can’t wait to look at a replay and see how he does it, with barely any tape on his stick, both. He simply corrals it a sure method. That’s what he does for us. He did it at a giant second, however he’s a giant participant and he often does.”