Kevin Shattenkirk accepts David Pastrnak’s occasional criticism because he recognizes that Boston’s top sniper is eager for more offensive opportunities. As the quarterback of the Bruins’ top power-play unit, Shattenkirk’s role includes distributing the puck to his playmakers, and Pastrnak, like any skilled receiver, desires the puck as frequently as possible.
“I’m willing to endure some criticism from Pasta if he’s dissatisfied, and I let him know he’s my primary target at the top,” Shattenkirk said. “We all understand that elite players like [Alex] Ovechkin, Pastrnak, and [Steven] Stamkos possess lethal shots, and most teams will prioritize stopping them. That’s where the four of us come in; we ensure that they pay the price if they attempt to neutralize him.”
The Bruins’ two power-play units played nearly the same amount of minutes during their Game 1 victory, providing a significant threat throughout the man advantage. Shattenkirk and Pastrnak are joined by Pat Maroon, Pavel Zacha, and Danton Heinen on their unit, providing multiple scoring options.
“If I can launch shots from the point, we have Patty in front of the net who excels in that role, and Pav in the middle who finds loose pucks, and Danton is another guy who we encourage to keep it simple and focus on getting pucks to the net,” Shattenkirk said. “He possesses a great shot, and the plays develop from there.”
During the playoffs, when the pace of play intensifies, Heinen, who operates from the opposite wing to Pastrnak, emphasizes the significance of having two potent units. “It’s fantastic, especially when players become fatigued or require a break and you can deploy the other unit,” he said. “And at this point in the season, having two units operating effectively is ideal.”
Derek Forbort, who has recovered from two surgeries for separate injuries, has rejoined the varsity after completing his long-term injury conditioning loan in Providence. “The timeline we received from the surgeons was a bit more extended than what we have here,” Forbort said.”
The Bruins’ banner captain for Game 2 was rugged forward Lyndon Byers. Reggie Lemelin, the jinx-breaking goaltender, received the Game 1 nod.
