BOSTON BRUINS MAKE HISTORY WITH HAT TRICKS AS PAVEL ZACHA AND MARAT KHUSNUTDINOV SCORE BIG IN 10-2 WIN OVER RANGERS.
The Boston Bruins made history on Saturday as Pavel Zacha and Marat Khusnutdinov both scored hat tricks in a thrilling 10-2 victory over the New York Rangers. The lopsided box score was a testament to the team's dominance, with both Zacha and Khusnutdinov putting on a show for the sold-out crowd at TD Garden.
Zacha, who had been waiting for his first hat trick all season, finally made it happen in the second period, scoring three goals before the end of the frame. His second tally was confirmed via video review after the opening period ended, prompting the Rangers to come back out on the ice to replay the final 33 seconds.
Khusnutdinov's four goals were a career first, and his fifth point sealed the win for the Bruins. The Russian forward's hat trick was also a milestone moment, marking the first time two Bruins have scored hat tricks in the same game since Jan. 18, 1964.
David Pastrnak tied a franchise record with six assists, including one that set up Khusnutdinov's third goal of the day. The Czech forward's performance was a highlight reel-worthy effort, as he danced through defenders and left Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin little chance to make a save.
As for the win itself, it was a welcome revenge for the Bruins after suffering a 6-2 loss in Boston's annual Black Friday game just last November. The team came out strong on Saturday, taking a 4-0 lead by the end of the second period. They continued to push hard throughout the third, scoring six more goals before finally running out of room.
The crowd was electric all night long, with fans chanting "We Want 10!" as the Bruins worked towards their record-breaking score. The team's coach Marco Sturm said after the game that he needed to work on getting his players more excited for the big games: "You gotta work with the crowd... they probably left too early on that second goal."
Sunday will be a tougher test, though, as the Bruins take on the Pittsburgh Penguins in the next matchup.
The Boston Bruins made history on Saturday as Pavel Zacha and Marat Khusnutdinov both scored hat tricks in a thrilling 10-2 victory over the New York Rangers. The lopsided box score was a testament to the team's dominance, with both Zacha and Khusnutdinov putting on a show for the sold-out crowd at TD Garden.
Zacha, who had been waiting for his first hat trick all season, finally made it happen in the second period, scoring three goals before the end of the frame. His second tally was confirmed via video review after the opening period ended, prompting the Rangers to come back out on the ice to replay the final 33 seconds.
Khusnutdinov's four goals were a career first, and his fifth point sealed the win for the Bruins. The Russian forward's hat trick was also a milestone moment, marking the first time two Bruins have scored hat tricks in the same game since Jan. 18, 1964.
David Pastrnak tied a franchise record with six assists, including one that set up Khusnutdinov's third goal of the day. The Czech forward's performance was a highlight reel-worthy effort, as he danced through defenders and left Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin little chance to make a save.
As for the win itself, it was a welcome revenge for the Bruins after suffering a 6-2 loss in Boston's annual Black Friday game just last November. The team came out strong on Saturday, taking a 4-0 lead by the end of the second period. They continued to push hard throughout the third, scoring six more goals before finally running out of room.
The crowd was electric all night long, with fans chanting "We Want 10!" as the Bruins worked towards their record-breaking score. The team's coach Marco Sturm said after the game that he needed to work on getting his players more excited for the big games: "You gotta work with the crowd... they probably left too early on that second goal."
Sunday will be a tougher test, though, as the Bruins take on the Pittsburgh Penguins in the next matchup.