“Why David Pastrňák’s Disappointing Playoffs are Holding Back the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup”

Some journalists Some time ago, Pastrňák was predicted to win the Conn Smythe Trophy for the most valuable player in this year’s NHL playoffs.

It was logical reasoning. Boston went into the elimination fights as the biggest favorite, and the mentioned award usually goes to the best hockey player of the winning team.

Although the Bruins have a number of leaders, Pastrňák shined the most in the regular season, scoring 113 times (61+52) and surpassing the second most productive partner, Brad Marchand, by 46 (!) points.

However, the Czech winger did not enter the playoffs as expected. In five games against Florida, he collected only two points for goals and ranks ninth in team productivity. Higher are defenders Charlie McAvoy (0+3) with Dmitriy Orlov (0+5) or perhaps lesser-known veteran Nick Foligno (1+2).

Even Pastrňák’s performance is far from ideal. One example for all: The superstar winger was the league’s leading scorer in the regular season with five shots per game, now averaging 3.6. Like he lacks confidence. Sometimes he records even in a situation where he would normally shoot.

The drop in form came suddenly. In ten games before the playoffs, Pastrňák scored 18 times (12+6). Florida didn’t give him problems either, scoring in each of the four games in the regular season. That she would only find the recipe for it now?

“Whatever the reason, Pastrňák has disappeared,” writes the website The Athletic. “He doesn’t help the team,” reads another part of the text.

Boston coach Jim Montgomery also perceives that the Czech forward is struggling. “He doesn’t like it there,” he started. “But it’s only a matter of time before that changes. I think he worked hard in the last game, won a lot of fights. Maybe he was more engaged than in the first two home games. Like I said, it’s only a matter of time. Eventually it will show , how very good he is.”

It can be read from the statistics that Montgomery has not stopped believing in his biggest star. Pastrňák continues to get a sea of ​​space, and with an ice time of 20:27, he is the team’s most utilized forward.

What changes are the formations. Most recently, Montgomery paired Pastrnak with Tyler Bertuzzi and injury returnee Patrice Bergeron. During the race, however, Bertuzzi was replaced by Brad Marchand to form a proven trio called “The Perfection Line”. In the end, however, Pastrňák returned to Bertuzzi and Pavlo Zach, with whom he played in previous matches in the absence of David Krejčí.

“But nothing works,” notes The Athletic.

On Thursday night, Pastrňák did not score at all for the second time in a row, which he did not experience in the previous regular season. Because of this, the Bruins lost to Florida 3:4 in overtime at home, and after an unused match point, they have to return to the opponent’s field with the series at 3:2.

This is not the first time that Pastrňak has faced criticism for his playoff performances. In general, however, it certainly cannot be said that he would wither in the fight for the Stanley Cup. Before this year’s, he reached 74 points (30+44) from 70 duels.