It was starting to get a little too close for comfort Saturday. A game that the Boston Bruins had led 3-0 and 4-1 was suddenly a 4-3 game with 6:16 remaining after a pair of Minnesota Wild goals.
But then with 3:10 to go, Pavel Zacha set up shop in the spot he's been trying to get to more this season: the front of the net. And that's where linemate Casey Mittelstadt found him waiting to deflect a shot past Filip Gustavsson and give the Bruins some breathing room. An Elias Lindholm empty-netter sealed a 6-3 victory for Boston, its second straight over a top team in the NHL.
"Every year it's a similar theme of, we want a little bit more of you around the net-front," Zacha said after the game. "Even now, putting me on the power play as a net-front role, just being around it and more using my body, that's something I try to focus on on video and everything in the summer. And I think it's paying off for now, and I have to keep doing it more."
It is paying off. Among other factors, it has helped Zacha score at a career-best rate. That insurance goal in the third period Saturday was Zacha's second of the game, as he also finished off a 2-on-1 feed from Viktor Arvidsson back in the first period.
Zacha now has 26 goals on the season, already five more than his previous career high. He is now up to 56 points, three shy of his career high with nine games to go. He has been at his best in March, in the most important stretch of the season so far, recording 11 goals and 15 points in the last 12 games.
Is Pavel Zacha playing the best hockey of his career?
“I think I try to get better every year. Every summer I try to work on my game, and I’m happy it keeps going up. Last year wasn't as good as I wanted, too, and kind of was motivation for all of us to get better.” pic.twitter.com/PXJyKrkvxH
— Scott McLaughlin (@smclaughlin9) March 29, 2026
In addition to getting to the front of the net more, coach Marco Sturm has also seen Zacha become a more accurate shooter than what his reputation had been.
"Well, I always heard he missed a lot of opportunities in the past," Sturm said. "I think now he hits it in the net. I think that's the one thing he spent – I've been watching him in the summer, like he works a lot on that, not just on his hands, but also on finishing. So, I think that finally paid off."
Zacha's chemistry with his linemates – Mittelstadt and Arvidsson – has also been a big part of this, possibly the most important part. The three of them, who were all coming off down seasons a year ago, have been together pretty much since Day 1 this season. They have played the third-most 5-on-5 minutes together of all lines in the NHL.
Even as he has shuffled around other lines, Sturm has left that second line largely untouched. They have given him no reason to even think about changing anything. After Saturday, they are now plus-21 as a line this season, the second-best 5-on-5 goal differential of any line. Only Colorado's top line (recently split up) of Nathan MacKinnon, Martin Necas and Artturi Lehkonen has been better (+22).
"It's impressive," David Pastrnak said of the Mittelstadt-Zacha-Arvidsson combination. "They never met each other, and they've been a great line the whole year. Every time they are on it makes it so much easier for the rest of the group to follow up, and when they have nights like this, not many nights we come up short. Obviously, Pav has been on a great goal streak and we'll need that. It's been really fun to watch and I'm super happy for him."
Pastrnak on the Mittelstadt-Zacha-Arvidsson line:
"It's impressive. They never met each other and they've been a great line the whole year. Every time they are on it makes it so much easier for the rest of the group to follow up, and when they have nights like this, not many… pic.twitter.com/LMTtVkieig
— Bridgette Proulx (@bridgetteproulx) March 29, 2026
Pastrnak and Zacha both know a thing or two about being on a dominant line. Three years ago, they played together on the last Bruins line that was plus-20 or better in a season – the "Czech Line" with fellow countryman David Krejci (which finished +20 exactly for the season).
This is a different line than that stylistically for Zacha, one that's more responsible defensively and more meat-and-potatoes offensively. He is centering it rather than playing wing. But what is similar is that Zacha is having a lot of fun, and helping the Bruins win in the process.
"I think when you have chemistry with a line, it always gets you excited to play games with them," Zacha said. "You're creating a lot of chances. That was four years ago for me, and I remember that till today. That was some of the most fun hockey I had. And again, this year and the year before, I feel like in Boston, I was always lucky enough to play with great teammates. Everyone you play with on this team, it's fun to play with, especially when we're clicking as a line. Probably played most of the season together. It helps. It's great that we're winning."
