NHL

Coach takes on Pastrnak after defeat: He has to be better! Your best players have to be your best players, especially at this time of year

The sleepy “Bears” of Boston have to work. Otherwise, it’s gonna be a hell of a squeeze. Just like in last year’s elimination battles, they squandered a 3-1 lead in the playoffs (then with the Florida Panthers) and now face a Game 7 for everything.

Published

7 months ago

3. 5. 2024

Michael Pastva

Pastrnak, Boston, Toronto Maple Leafs — Zdroj: NHL via Getty Images

The sleepy “Bears” of Boston have to work. Otherwise, it’s gonna be a hell of a squeeze. Just like in last year’s playoffs, they squandered a 3-1 lead in the playoffs (then with the Florida Panthers) and now face Game 7 for everything.

William Nylander was the star of the game, which ended 2:1 for Toronto, while Auston Matthews was kept out by injury. Which also confirmed the paradoxical statistic that Toronto wins more in the playoffs without him. Boston countered with a goal in the last second of the game.

And unlike Třinec against Sparta in the semifinals of the Czech Extraliga, that wasn’t enough for him. And the Czechs? No one scored. Neither David Pastrňák nor Pavel Zacha. And especially “Pastu”, who scored only 2+2 after a dreamy regular season, was criticized by Bruins coach Jim Montgomery in a post-game interview.

“Your best players have to be your best players, especially at this time of the year. Parsnip has to step up. He needs to be the dominant player we’re used to. So far, he’s only been able to do that in hints, not as consistently as he was in the regular season,” Montgomery said.

He was especially annoyed by the start of the game. Boston had just one shot on goal in the first period. “This is totally unacceptable. Next time we have to find a way to start early, and we just have to be better. Toronto starting early gains the advantage and the momentum,” Montogmery continued his criticism.

Both Parsnip and Zacha had chances, even at 0:0. But neither of them were able to push through. And now both are one game away from the end of the season.

What the heck… coach Radim Rulík, who is preparing the Czech national team for the World Championship, would probably be happy if both players were available. But the question is whether they would be interested in coming after such a painful elimination.

Neither of them, nor the entire Boston team, will be thinking about that and will be focused on fighting for everything. Can they do it? Or will Toronto rejoice, and with it, David Kämpf? That will be revealed in the game played Saturday night to Sunday at 02:00 CEST.