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Bruins' Pastrnak to debut vs. Pens

November 24, 2014, 7:04 PM ET [19 Comments]
Ty Anderson
Boston Bruins Blogger •Bruins Feature Columnist • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The Boston Bruins held out as long as they could. But after 22 games, 2014 first-rounder David Pastrnak is with the big club and ready for his NHL debut. And it was only a matter of time, really.

Despite skating as the league’s youngest player, the 18-year-old winger has lit up the American Hockey League, recording five goals and 18 points in 17 games for the Providence Bruins. Those 18 points put him in a tie for fifth among AHL scorers, and on a fast track to TD Garden ice.

And though the Black and Gold are still referring to their prized Czech prospect as a game-time decision, all indications are that Pastrnak will make his debut tonight, skating on a line with his Providence linemates, center Alexander Khokhlachev and 2009 first-rounder Jordan Caron.

“He’s improved a lot,” B’s coach Claude Julien said of Pastrnak following the Bruins’ morning skate.

“Understanding the game, the North American game. The way we plays here, whether it’s here or Providence, as you know we’re pretty well similar. We know he’s a dynamic player, but it’s like a lot of players will tell you—well here’s an example, I was listening to Martin St. Louis yesterday talk and how he said he was utilized a lot in defensive situations early in his career and until somebody gave him that opportunity to become an offensive guy, like he had been his whole career, he felt like he was a more complete player,” Julied continued. “Right now, that’s what David is trying to learn in Providence. We know how dynamically he makes things happen. He’s a skill player, can score goals but we don’t expect perfection but you have to be at least a little bit reliable defensively. That’s what he’s working on over there and he’s gotten better, so that’s where we’re at with him and I guess, I’m going to find out a little bit more about him if he plays tonight.”

It’s skill that Pastrnak has, and skill the Bruins need right now.

They’re still without the services of playmaking centerman David Krejci, Brad Marchand remains a game-time decision, and Reilly Smith has not scored a goal in his last six games. Those are three of, if not the three, most creative offensive zone playmakers the Bruins have on their roster, and without their contributions, the Bruins have become a club stuck in the mud of simplifying their offensive game.

It’ll be interesting to see just how much ice-time the B’s give to that Caron-Khokhlachev-Pastrnak line, and if No. 88 (that’s Pastrnak, by the way) receives a demotion or promotion depending on the game’s situation.

When it comes to Pittsburgh, the depleted B’s know what’s coming their way. They have the offensive firepower of the league’s elite with a one-two punch of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, but Patric Hornqvist has emerged as a legitimate weapon, while Chris Kunitz is still among the league’s best in front of the net. Something the B’s will have a difficult time handling with Zdeno Chara.

Pittsburgh gives the start to their guy, Marc-Andre Fleury.

Flower has 11 wins in 15 starts this year, along with four shutouts, and comes into play with 11 wins in 20 career starts against the Bruins and a .922 save percentage. He took the loss in his last start via the shootout, stopping 31-of-35 shots from the New York Islanders on Nov. 21.

Boston will counter with Tuukka Rask. Rask’s season figures continue to climb (he comes into this one with a .915 save percentage on the year), but has a pretty so-so-at-best career mark against Pittsburgh, with just three wins and a .907 save percentage in eight games against the Pens.

To accommodate the Pastrnak call-up and activation of Marchand off the injured reserve, the Bruins, at the roster limit, sent Seth Griffith back down to the American Hockey League. The move was surely a tough one for the Bruins, especially with Griffith's five goals tying him for first on the club, but the truth is that Griffith is the one of the few guys that doesn't require waivers to be sent down to the minors. He'll be back in no time, though.
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