Jim Montgomery Statement After Blowout Win

In a convincing 6-2 victory at Wells Fargo Center, Boston outplayed Philadelphia. The Flyers had hoped for a celebratory atmosphere as they inducted 2011 Stanley Cup champion Mark Recchi into the team Hall of Fame and honored the 1974 Stanley Cup team. However, Pastrnak set the tone for the game by scoring the opening goal with a skillful wrist shot.

Montgomery evenly distributed playing time among his top two lines. There was also a moment when the Bruins sent out Danton Heinen, Jesper Boqvist, and Jakub Lauko for a power play that unfortunately went 0-for-3 that afternoon. On the bright side, the penalty kill was flawless at 3-0.

During the first period, Pastrnak showcased his dominance by maneuvering along the boards and finding the back of the net. The Bruins had numerous chances to add more goals against Philadelphia.

By the end of Saturday's game, Pastrnak, the Bruins forward, notched two goals and an assist. He has historically excelled against the Flyers, boasting an impressive average of 0.90 goals per game when facing Philadelphia – the highest in NHL history, as reported by NESN. This remarkable record translates to 26 goals in 29 games against the Flyers.

On Saturday, Pastrnak achieved a milestone by becoming the ninth player in franchise history to accumulate 60 career three-point games, according to NHL public relations. His assist played a crucial role in James van Riemsdyk's second-period goal, coincidentally happening on the day the Flyers honored him.

Heading into the All-Star break, Pastrnak showcased an impressive performance with 33 goals and 39 assists, accumulating 72 points. This marks the second time he has reached the 70-point milestone in just 50 games or fewer, tying him with legends Adam Oates and Bill Cowley, according to NESN.

The 27-year-old forward is currently on track for a remarkable 55-goal season and is a strong contender for the Hart Trophy. Although Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon is the favorite according to FanDuel at -135, Pastrnak holds 12-1 odds to win and +950 odds to clinch the Rocket Richard.

Boston's recent road performance has been outstanding, going 6-0-3 in the last nine away games. The team averaged 3.7 goals per game while allowing only 2.3 goals per game, resulting in a plus-12 goal differential during that stretch.

After the Christmas break, the Black and Gold went 11-2-3, with five games decided in overtime or by a shootout. Unfortunately, Jake DeBrusk, Matthew Poitras, and Derek Forbort were absent from the lineup due to undisclosed injuries, providing them with a week off to recover.

Patrick Brown was called up from Providence and started on the fourth line, logging 12:13 of ice time with a minus-2 against the Flyers. Despite winning only 33.3% of his faceoffs, Brown contributed to the team effort.

With an impressive record of 31-9-9, the Bruins hold the best record in the NHL as they head into the All-Star break. Montgomery, Pastrnak, and Jeremy Swayman are set to represent the team in Toronto for the NHL All-Star Game.

Credits: NESN