Watch: Pastrnak’s ‘panic mode’ goal tied up Oilers

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Photo credit Greg M. Cooper

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The only plan Bruins forward David Pastrnak had when he got the puck during a power play early in the first period Thursday was to tie the score after Connor McDavid had given the Edmonton Oilers an early lead.

So the highlight-reel goal he wound up scoring with a move between his legs and then a few dekes on goaltender Cam Talbot was pure improvisation.

“I don’t know, I was really in panic mode, in my head,” Pastrnak said after the Bruins beat the Oilers 4-1 at TD Garden. “It was good being able to get into the middle after a broken play and yeah, the D had a bad gap so I figured I’d try that and then I just kept working to the net.”

The Bruins scored twice more in the first period to extend their lead and the Oilers never responded offensively.

Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy was wowed by Pastrnak’s creativity.

“And about 18,000 people. I mean who doesn’t appreciate a move like that?” Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said. “You don’t like it against you, but it was a hell of a play. It’s a high-end, skilled play, we keep a puck alive and we attack the interior. What we wanted to do against their PK was get inside, see if they could handle us inside.”

“That was a great goal to get us going. You don’t like to give up the first one at home, you want to kind of get it equal as quickly as you can. He did a great job there.”