Bruins HC calls out All-Star for lack of playoff production

It's not often that fans hear a coach directly single out a specific player, especially right after praising another one. At this point though, "Pasta" and the rest of the Bruins need all the extra push they can get going into Saturday night's Game 7.

While Boston captain Brad Marchand has stepped up through the first six contests with eight points via three goals and five assists, Pastrnak has struggled, especially in the last two games.

The four-time All-Star has four points during the series but none in the last two contests (both Bruins losses).

Now, Boston is in danger of blowing a 3-1 series lead in the first round of the playoffs for the second year in a row.

The Bruins won the Presidents' Trophy for the most regular season points in the NHL last spring during Montgomery's first year on the bench. After setting an NHL record with 65 wins and 135 points, though, they fell to the Florida Panthers in seven games in the first round.

Like 2023, Boston lost a potential closeout contest in Game 5 at home and fell on the road in Game 6. Now, for the second straight season, the Bruins have one more chance to avoid another choke job when they play at the TD Garden in Game 7.

Boston dominated Toronto in Game 1 in Beantown, 5-1, before five-time All-Star Auston Matthews' game-winner gave the Maple Leafs a 3-2 victory in Game 2. The Bruins bounced back with a 4-2 road victory in Game 3 and a 3-1 road triumph in Game 4 on Saturday.

Pastrnak played in all 82 of the team's regular-season games for the second season in a row and led the squad by a wide margin in goals (47), assists (63) and points (110).