Boston Bruins right wing David Pastrnak scored his 400th career goal Tuesday in front of a raucous crowd at TD Garden. The sweet set piece, which involved a couple of dangles before he tucked the puck past the Toronto Maple Leafs' goalie was fitting for many reasons.
Pastrnak's milestone was celebrated with one of those epic team hugs that have become synonymous with the Bruins' culture, and his teammates mobbed him on the ice after the goal in the second period. The win marked Boston's seventh consecutive victory, their longest streak since 2022-23, and it capped off a scoring surge by the Bruins.
Pastrnak led the charge for Boston with two goals, including a power-play tally at 9:48 of the third period. This milestone marks him sixth in franchise history with his 401 goals, just one behind Rick Middleton (402) for fifth place. Pastrnak has already secured plenty of individual scoring milestones across his 12 seasons in Boston.
Pastrnak's value to the Bruins is significant as he often lights up the lamp early and often. His approach to the game is that of a true leader who wears the 'C' on his jersey, and he carries himself with humility despite being one of the most dominant players in the league.
Coach Marco Sturm said, "He does it his way, right? I can't really compare him -- maybe [Alex] Ovechkin a little bit." Sturm's comments echo what linemate Morgan Geekie had to say about Pastrnak - that he is an equal among his teammates and that they all look up to him.
Pastrnak's milestone was celebrated with one of those epic team hugs that have become synonymous with the Bruins' culture, and his teammates mobbed him on the ice after the goal in the second period. The win marked Boston's seventh consecutive victory, their longest streak since 2022-23, and it capped off a scoring surge by the Bruins.
Pastrnak led the charge for Boston with two goals, including a power-play tally at 9:48 of the third period. This milestone marks him sixth in franchise history with his 401 goals, just one behind Rick Middleton (402) for fifth place. Pastrnak has already secured plenty of individual scoring milestones across his 12 seasons in Boston.
Pastrnak's value to the Bruins is significant as he often lights up the lamp early and often. His approach to the game is that of a true leader who wears the 'C' on his jersey, and he carries himself with humility despite being one of the most dominant players in the league.
Coach Marco Sturm said, "He does it his way, right? I can't really compare him -- maybe [Alex] Ovechkin a little bit." Sturm's comments echo what linemate Morgan Geekie had to say about Pastrnak - that he is an equal among his teammates and that they all look up to him.
. Like, good for the guy, right? He's been killing it on the ice for years and his work ethic is truly inspiring. The fact that he leads by example and doesn't try to be someone he's not is super refreshing in a sport where ego often gets the best of people 
. And let's be real, his teammates are all about him because they know how hard he puts in every game 
️. It's not about the stats or individual recognition - it's about the team's overall success and Pastrnak is the heartbeat of that machine 
.
i mean, the way he celebrated with his teammates was so cool, those epic hugs are everything 
. it's not suprising tho, Pastrnak has been on fire lately and leading by example. coach sturm said he does things his own way but i think he's just a straight up legend 
. and linemate Geekie said he looks up to him? same, morgan, same 
. the fact that he's already got so many individual scoring milestones is wild too... what's next? 500th?! 
.
.
think about it, he's carrying the torch for that bruins team with such humility and poise... it's like he's saying 'hey, I'm not here to seek the spotlight, but I'll show you what it means to be a true leader' 
and yeah, marco sturm's comments are spot on - pastrnak does have that ovechkin swagger, but without being too flashy about it 
what's even more beautiful is how his teammates respond to him - they genuinely look up to him as a role model... that's the kind of leadership that wins championships 
️ I'm loving this milestone moment for Pastrnak & the Bruins! 
It's amazing to see how much he's grown into a leader on & off the ice 
.
. He's that one player who consistently drives his team forward, setting the tone for his teammates & creating opportunities through his playmaking skills. It's no wonder his teammates look up to him so much! 
. Coach Sturm's statement about Pastrnak doing things his own way is quite apt, as he's a true master of his craft 
. What's also striking is how seamlessly he integrates with his teammates, creating an environment where they all look up to him in terms of skill and dedication 
.
. The way his teammates mobbed him after that 400th goal was epic 
. But 12 seasons in Boston is insane, I mean I know he's old for a hockey player but still... That team hug though, what a moment 
. Sturm's comment about him playing his own way is fair, Pastrnak is a true leader and carries himself with class. And it's sick to think that he's just one goal behind Middleton for fifth place in franchise history 
. But what's really impressive is how he does it with such humility - you don't often see players of his caliber being so down-to-earth about their achievements 
! The way he carried himself after scoring, all humble and whatnot... it's really inspiring to see a player like him who's not about personal accolades but about winning and contributing to the team. His leadership qualities are undeniable too - I mean, carrying that 'C' on his jersey doesn't just go around willy-nilly! 
Pastrnak's value to the Bruins goes beyond stats - it's about the team-first mentality and that's what sets him apart. 
i think what sets him apart is his humility, he's not that flashy or attention-seeking, which makes him even more inspiring 
I'm so over how outdated the NHL's goal-tracking system still is 
. 400 goals and no fancy stats or graphics to go with it? Come on, can't we get a sick highlight reel or something 
? And what's up with the lack of celebrations on the goalie's end? A little bit of flair would go a long way 
.
