Pastrnak scores twice, Bruins power past Avalanche

BOSTON (AP) — David Pastrnak's scoring slump is a thing of the past.

A game after ending a four-game scoreless drought, the Bruins’ top scorer had two goals to help the Boston Bruins roll past the Western Conference-leading Colorado Avalanche 5-1 on Monday.

Patrice Bergeron, Jake DeBrusk and Charlie Coyle also scored for Boston, which has won two straight. Jeremy Swayman had 28 saves and Taylor Hall added three assists.

“I think that was the best game of this year if you're talking full game, 60 minutes,” Pastrnak said. “We just stayed in the moment. We were really energized. It was a great win for us and two big points.”

It was a makeup for their Dec. 23 matchup that was postponed because of a league-wide outbreak of COVID-19 cases.

Pastrnak, who broke out of a four-game scoring slump with a game-winning overtime goal to lift Boston past Ottawa on Saturday, now has a team-leading 27 goals on the season.

Coach Bruce Cassidy said Hall in particular has stepped up since Brad Marchand was suspended Feb. 9, taking his place on Boston's top line. Hall has five points over the past three games.

“Especially the play-making part,” Cassidy said. “He's made a lot of nice plays with those extra minutes.”

Nathan MacKinnon had the lone goal for Colorado, which had its two-game win streak snapped. Darcy Kuemper finished with 40 saves.

“I just thought they were the quicker, more determined team," Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. “It wasn’t our most competitive effort.”

Gabriel Landeskog said a stretch that’s had the Avs play four games in six days wasn’t an excuse for their lethargic start.

“Sometimes you have bad games or tough games," he said. "I’m not gonna blow this out of proportion. We can play better and be better,” he