How Joe Sacco Plans To Handle ‘Pressing’ Bruins Star After Win Over Red Wings

A goal-scorer the caliber of Boston Bruins winger David Pastrnak just needs the offensive chances to make an opposing team pay.

Well, terrific scoring opportunities came Pastrnak’s way during Boston’s 2-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night at Little Caesars Arena, but a goal never followed for the Bruins star.

That’s been the case for Pastrnak far too often this season. Even though he owns a team-leading eight goals, he’s not cashing in on his chances at the rate the Bruins are accustomed to seeing from the three-time All-Star.

It’s clear Pastrnak is scuffling in the goal-scoring department at the moment — he has just two goals in the last 13 games — but Bruins interim head coach Joe Sacco doesn’t feel he needs to give Pastrnak any sort of pep talk.

“I think that I’m going to leave him alone a little bit here, give him some space,” Sacco told reporters, per team-provided audio. “He’s certainly, probably pressing. When he gets looks like that they will eventually go in. He’s too good of a hockey player. So, just give him some space and hopefully he finds that touch again.”

Pastrnak did get a consolation prize against the Red Wings for assisting on Brad Marchand’s game-winning goal with 8:30 left in the third period. It was Pastrnak’s 11th assist of the season.

But the Bruins surely are looking for Pastrnak to score more. For that to happen, pucks need to fly to the net, something that has been more of an emphasis under Sacco after taking over for Jim Montgomery.

“It’s something we’re trying to work out of as a group. We want to be a more shot volume team,” Sacco said. “And I’m not talking about just shooting from every angle of the ice. But certainly we want our (defense) to be more shot ready. We want to try to get two on the inside more, create some more rebound chances, some two-for-ones. Even with our forwards, I think there’s opportunity coming down, entering the zone where we can put more pucks, funnel them to the net and look for some rebound chances there, too. So, it’s really just a mindset I think with the group.”