{"id":2569,"date":"2016-10-18T23:59:02","date_gmt":"2016-10-19T03:59:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/?p=2569"},"modified":"2016-10-19T14:03:38","modified_gmt":"2016-10-19T18:03:38","slug":"david-pastrnaks-first-hundred-games","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2016\/10\/18\/david-pastrnaks-first-hundred-games\/","title":{"rendered":"David Pastrnak’s First Hundred Games as a Boston Bruin"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Boston Bruins<\/strong>‘ David Pastrnak<\/a><\/strong> played his hundredth game on Monday night, netting his fourth goal of the season against the Winnipeg Jets<\/strong>. Since his debut with the Bruins in 2014, the 20-year-old Czech forward has proven to be an asset to the team that drafted him, and will likely remain a\u00a0strong player for the franchise.<\/p>\n

David Pastrnak Shines In First Hundred Games<\/h2>\n

Pastrnak led the Czech U18 League<\/strong> in both goals and points in the 2011-12 season. The loss of his father, Milan, to cancer in 2013 inspired him to train harder and follow his dreams to play in the NHL<\/strong>.\u00a0As a prospect, he was know for his speed and goal scoring ability.<\/p>\n

Under then general manager Peter Chiarelli, <\/strong>the\u00a0<\/strong>Boston Bruins\u00a0<\/strong>selected Pastrnak 25th overall in the first round of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.\u00a0He signed a\u00a0three-year\u00a0entry level deal with Boston in July of 2014, and was assigned to the Providence Bruins<\/strong> of the American Hockey League<\/strong> at the beginning of the season.<\/p>\n

Pastrnak made his NHL debut in November 2014 in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins<\/strong>. After another stint in Providence, he returned to the team to score his first two NHL goals in one game against Ray Emery<\/a><\/strong> of the Philadelphia Flyers<\/strong>. He ended the season as one of only two players from the 2014 draft (along with the Florida Panthers’ Aaron Ekblad<\/a><\/strong>) to play more than 40 games that season. The ability to play alongside his Czech hockey idol David Krejci<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0excited Pastrnak, and may have contributed to his success early on. Krejci, in addition to housing the young player in his sophomore season, acted as a role model and helped his linemate adjust to life in Boston.<\/p>\n

An injury early in the 2015-16 season sidelined Pastrnak from November to\u00a0January. After a short rehabilitation stint in Providence, he returned and would finish the year with 15 goals and 26 points in 51 games. Pastrnak was\u00a0fifth (tied) on the team in goals and tenth in points, despite missing so much time.<\/p>\n

What’s In Store This Season<\/h2>\n

So far this season, Pastrnak leads the team in goals scored and is second in points to his current linemate Brad Marchand<\/a><\/strong>. Only three games in, he has already netted four goals, including the game winner against Winnipeg. If he is able to avoid injury, he could\u00a0be amongst the team’s leaders in points. He will get a further boost when\u00a0teammate\u00a0Patrice Bergeron<\/a><\/strong> returns from injury, which could be as early as the home opener Thursday versus the\u00a0New Jersey Devils<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Main Photo:<\/p>\n

\n
Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n