David Pastrnak of the Bruins scores against Red Wings Ville Husso on a penalty shot in the third period Saturday night in Boston. Michael Dwyer/Associated Press
BOSTON — David Pastrnak scored his second penalty-shot goal of the season and banked in an empty-netter, leading the Boston Bruins past the Detroit Red Wings 4-1 on Saturday night.
Pavel Zacha and Charlie McAvoy scored first-period goals and Jeremy Swayman made 23 saves for the Bruins, who improved to 7-0-1. Boston posted NHL records with 65 wins and 135 points last season.
After blowing a two-goal lead in the final minute of regulation before losing in overtime against Anaheim on Thursday, the Bruins closed this one out in an Original Six matchup between the two Eastern Conference teams off to strong starts.
Joe Veleno sent a wrister over Swayman’s left shoulder from the slot, slicing it to 2-1 midway into the third period.
But Pastrnak was awarded a penalty shot when he was slashed from behind by defenseman Jake Walman on a breakaway. The Bruins winger went down the middle and shifted the puck a few times before lifting a wrister over Ville Husso 11:19 into the third period.
Pastrnak fired a shot off the side boards near center ice that caromed into an empty net for his team-leading eighth goal with just over 2 minutes left.
Husso made 27 stops for the Red Wings, who dropped their third straight.
Zacha charged toward the net and sent a backhander past Husso 10:33 into the opening period, about a minute after the center was robbed on a shot from the slot.
McAvoy’s unassisted score made it 2-0 at 14:36 of the first. He cut around defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere near the right circle, skated across the crease and flipped a shot that hit Husso’s glove and trickled into the net.
The Bruins held the Red Wings to single digits in shots until midway into the second period.
NOTES: The Bruins placed veteran forward Milan Lucic on the long-term injured list before Saturday’s game.
Lucic, 35, has played in four games, getting two assists. He has missed the last three games after getting hit with a shot off an ankle in a game against Los Angeles on Oct. 21.
To fill his roster spot, the Bruins recalled forward Oskar Steen from their AHL affiliate in Providence, Rhode Island.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
