Bruins Notes: David Pastrnak’s Goal Ends Boston’s Six-Game Losing Streak

David Pastrnak was once again the hero for the Bruins, ending Boston’s six-game losing streak with just two seconds remaining in overtime.

The Black and Gold star nearly ended the game in regulation when he lobbed the puck toward the Pathers’ empty net, and as luck, or rather bad luck, would have it, the rubber rang off the post, and the play came back to the Bruins’ zone on an icing.

With 1.8 seconds left, Sam Reinhart enjoyed the benefit of a bouncing puck that got past Jeremy Swayman to tie the game 3-3 and force the extra frame.

Pastrnak finally got the luck and bounce the Bruins desperately needed. With time running out, Pastrnak attempted a cross-ice pass that went off Reinhart’s stick and beat Sergei Bobrovsky, giving the Bruins the much-needed 4-3 victory.

“Obviously, (the Panthers) were pushing hard. They’re a really good offensive team,” Bruins interim head coach Joe Sacco told reporters in Sunrise, Fla., per team-provided audio. “We had a little trouble. We struggled coming out of our D-zone under pressure toward the end. … They found a way to tie it, but fortunately for us, we showed some resiliency in overtime, and we found a way to get a win.”

The Bruins sniper potted two goals in the game for his team-leading 18th and 19th tallies. He has six goals in his last five games. Pastrnak had the secondary assist on Morgan Geekie’s first-period power-play goal for his 12th multi-point game of the season.

Here are more notes from Saturday’s Bruins-Panthers game:

— Swayman made 40 saves on 43 shots for his win in six games. He improved to 14-15-3 overall with a 2.91 goals-against average and a .895 save percentage.

“He was the difference in the game,” Sacco told reporters, per team-provided audio. “The goalie played very well tonight. And that’s what you need sometimes when you’re going through a situation like we are. (The Panthers) played well, we had outstanding goaltending today, and that was the difference in the game.”

— Geekie and Pastrnak each scored goals on the man advantage to end the Bruins’ power-play drought. Boston had not scored on the power play in nine games, dating back to Dec. 23 against the Washington Capitals.

— Oliver Wahlstrom scored his first goal as a Bruin to extend Boston’s lead to 3-2 in the third period. The goal came on the forward’s only shot across 8:15 of ice time against the Panthers.

Boston claimed Wahlstrom off waivers on Dec. 14. The Maine native has played in 10 games for the Black and Gold, averaging 10:59 of ice time on the third and fourth lines.

— The Bruins head back to Boston to host the Tampa Bay Lightning after splitting the two-game road trip in Florida. Puck drop from TD Garden is scheduled at 7 p.m. ET on NESN.