Without David Pastrnak, Bruins' power play can't score

Over the past six games, the Bruins' power play has become a source of concern for the team, with numbers that bear out just how much the team has struggled on the man advantage in April.

After an 0-for-5 performance in Thursday's 3-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators, Boston has now failed to score on its last 23 power-play opportunities. The last power-play goal scored by a Bruin was seven games ago, when Erik Haula cashed in on the man advantage in the Bruins' home game against the Blue Jackets on April 2.

As the Bruins' power-play points have dried up, so have the Bruins' points in the standings. The Bruins have lost four of six games during their current power-play drought and have not won a single game in regulation.

The power play's downturn has coincided with a mounting list of injuries throughout the Bruins' lineup. Hampus Lindholm, Trent Frederic, Matt Grzelcyk, Brandon Carlo, Linus Ullmark and -- most importantly to the power play -- David Pastrnak, have all missed at least some time during these last six games.

Pastrnak, the Bruins' top power-play goal-scorer, left the Bruins' game against Columbus on April 4 and has missed the five games since. In that time, the Bruins have gone 0-for-18 on the power play.

Pastrnak has been arguably the Bruins' biggest power-play threat this season, racking up a team-leading 14 power-play goals and producing the second most power-play points (24). His 83 power-play shots are the most on the team by a wide margin, ahead of the next man, Patrice Bergeron, by 30 shots.

When Bruce Cassidy spoke of the struggles his team has been having on the power play, he brought up how Pastrnak's absence has affected its success.

"We spent some time in the o-zone. We were just off-net on way too many chances," Cassidy said. "It's just a bit of our issue on the power play a lot. It's just coming back to haunt us now, even more, when you've got a guy out, that can hit the net, score, and shoot it past the goalie. He [Pastrnak] covers up for some of that."

In place of Pastrnak on the top power-play unit, Cassidy has tried several players (including Jake DeBrusk, Charlie Coyle and Erik Haula), but none that can provide that same level of threat or output.

Outside of missing Pastrnak, Cassidy has cited several issues with his power play this week, calling it "selfish" after Tuesday's loss to the Blues.

"Lack of execution. I think we're selfish," he said. "Guys are holding the puck too long wanting to make the play instead of letting the puck do the work. I think those two things are fairly evident."

He cited not getting shots on target as a key failure in the Bruins' power play on Thursday in the Bruins' loss to the Ottawa Senators.

"We're just missing it too much and fighting it," Cassidy said. "And that's guys wanting to get it done. I give them credit for competing and wanting to get it done. We just need something good to happen on that power play so they can just relax and start moving it like they're capable of."

While Cassidy has said he doesn't think Pastrnak's injury is too long-term, there remains no definitive timetable for his return. Until he's back, the power play will have to keep trying to find a way to break through.

Linus Ullmark leaves game as Bruins' injury woes continue