Bruins become fastest team to 100 points in NHL history

BOSTON — David Pastrnak had a goal and two assists just a few hours after signing a new contract, and the surging Boston Bruins became the fastest team in NHL history to reach 100 points by beating the Buffalo Sabres 7-1 on Thursday night.

Jakub Lauko scored twice, Dmitry Orlov added a goal and two assists, and Jeremy Swayman stopped 26 shots as the Bruins overcame the loss of Brad Marchand to a lower body injury to win their ninth straight.

Boston improved to 48-8-5 in its 61st game, besting the Montreal team from 1976-77 that reached 100 points in 62 games when teams didn't earn a point for an overtime loss. The Bruins are on pace to surpass that Canadiens club for most points (132) in a season.

Pavel Zacha, Patrice Bergeron and Connor Clifton added goals for Boston.

«It's been really amazing to watch them want to be great,» coach Jim Montgomery said.

Casey Mittelstadt scored for Buffalo, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 35 shots. But his unusual tripping penalty led to Orlov's power-play goal and turned the game as the Sabres dropped their second straight.

The victory capped an eventful day for the Bruins. They acquired Tyler Bertuzzi from Detroit and inked Pastrnak to an eight-year, $90 million extension.

«Probably took a little longer than we hoped for, but we finally got across the finish line,» Boston president Cam Neely said. «We're thrilled to have him for another eight years.»

Pastrnak drew the odd penalty against Luukkonen in the second period and then assisted on the ensuing goal. He scored his 43rd goal into an empty net in Boston's five-goal third period that also saw him earn his 40th assist.

Bertuzzi, called a good «sandpaper» guy by Montgomery, will help fill the roles of fellow wingers Taylor Hall and