Bruins David Pastrnak Scores OT Series Winner After Getting Called Out By His Coach

Jim Montgomery isn’t a Jack Adams award finalist, but he pulled one big-brain coaching move ahead of the Boston Bruins Game 7 matchup with the Toronto Maple Leafs by calling out underperforming star David Pastrnak.

"Pasta needs to step up," he said.

That decision paid off.

The Bruins were fighting to not become the first team in NHL, MLB, and NBA history to blow a 3-1 series lead in back-to-back postseasons in the final game of the opening-round tilt between the Original Six teams. The Toronto Maple Leafs were trying to avoid their own string of infamy by not losing their sixth straight Game 7.

So, yeah, there was a lot on the line, not to mention a trip to the second round to face the Florida Panthers.

Before the game, Pastrnak was asked about his coach’s comments, and to his credit he owned it. I mean, four points in six games for a guy who is expected to be the primary offensive force on his team? That’s not going to cut it, and he knew that,

The game was scoreless through two periods, but Toronto’s William Nylander — the hero in Game 6 — and Boston’s Hampus Lindholm scored just 81 seconds apart and before you knew it we were off to overtime.

If you had to pick a player from each team who would create the best story if he potted the game-winner, for the Leafs it’d probably be Auston Matthews who was back in the lineup after missing Games 5 and 6 and for the Bruins, it would be Pastrnak.

You already saw the headline, so you know what’s coming but oh man, did Pasta score a beauty to stomp on Toronto Maple Leafs fans’ hearts.

You couldn't write a better ending… unless you're a Leafs fan (duh).

What a way to end what was easily the best series of the first round, and it sets up a chance for the Bruins to get revenge after getting upset by the Panthers last season.

As for the Leafs, who knows? I just think they could look pretty different when they hit the ice next season.