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If the Bruins don’t work out, Pastrnak can always play for the Red Sox

By Michelle Bruton

BOSTON, MA - MAY 4: David Pastrnak #88 of the Boston Bruins scores against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the TD Garden on May 4, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** David Pastrnak
BOSTON, MA - MAY 4: David Pastrnak #88 of the Boston Bruins scores against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the TD Garden on May 4, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** David Pastrnak /
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In the first period of the Boston Bruins’ game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, David Pastrnak earned points for style when he batted a puck into the net out of mid-air.

The Boston Bruins fell into a 2-0 hole quickly to open their Game 4 against the Tampa Bay Lightning at home Friday night, thanks to an unassisted goal by Brayden Point and a follow-up by Nikita Kucherov.

But right winger David Pastrnak, unwilling to allow his team to head back to the dressing room sporting a giant goose egg, decided to channel his friends across town, the Red Sox, with this insane goal in the final minutes of the first period.

Like a cleanup hitter for the Sox, Pastrnak set up, swung and drilled the puck into the back of the net like a line drive headed for the Green Monster.

The Bruins evened things up at 2-2 in the second period thanks to a Patrice Bergeron goal off a Torey Krug assist.

Boston was in an uncharacteristic slump in Game 3, falling 4-1 at home to the Lightning. And while Pastrnak was a huge reason why the Bruins advanced past the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Stanley Cup quarterfinals, with 13 total points on five goals and eight assists and a plus-minus of 1.

But Pastrnak had been quieter in the last two games of the semifinals against the Bolts, netting an assist in each game after storming out with four apples in the series opener.

The Bruins needed a spark tonight, so much so that Bruce Cassidy dramatically shuffled the line combinations. And Pastrnak, so far, is stepping up.

If Boston goes down 3-1 to the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight, coming back to win this series will be very difficult, especially since the Bruins head to Tampa Bay for Game 5 on Sunday.

But if Pastrnak decides that he wants to hang up his skates earlier than his contract expiration in the 2022-23 season, perhaps the Red Sox will remember that swing.

Next: 10 reasons Stanley Cup Playoffs are better than NBA Playoffs

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