Recap: Bruins push past battling Coyotes in 5-3 win

David Pastrnak registered two goals and an assist, the PK went 5 for 5 and Linus Ullmark made 31 saves in the win.

The Boston Bruins topped the Arizona Coyotes, 5-3, today at the TD Garden with David Pastrnak leading the team with two goals in the win.

After a slow start which saw the Bruins outshot 8 to 1 and the feels of some bad habits from Thursday, the B’s began to find their offensive game and shift momentum to their favor.

By the first period’s end, the Bruins were in the driver’s seat on tallies from Pastrnak and Charlie Coyle and ended the frame up 2-0 — despite an even amount of chances from both sides.

An early power play in the second cushioned their lead.

Although the Bruins went up by three goals, they let their foot of the gas and allowed the Coyotes to answer back with two quick goals in only 32 seconds.

Kevin Shattenkirk credited Arizona’s offensive game to battle to within one score and the fact that his team had for a moment underestimated their opponent at that point in the game.

In the second, the Bruins were down a center, losing Pavel Zacha to an upper-body injury.

With some line shuffling, Danton Heinen capitalized on efforts from Matt Poitras and Trent Frederic to advance the puck into the offensive zone and make the score, 4-2.

Arizona started the third period putting pressure on Ullmark. Despite a strong performance from him all game, Lawson Crouse snuck a wrist shot past his glove and made it a tight game until Pastrnak netted his second of the night.

The Bruins held onto the two-goal lead for the final five minutes of play.

Postgame, Jim Montgomery said Pastrnak was “fantastic” in the win, as well as Ullmark who made 31 saves in the win.

“He had to be,” Montgomery said about Ullmark’s game being on point and being the best player out there during penalty kills. The Bruins found themselves on the kill five times this afternoon.

The Bruins have a few days off until their next game on Wednesday, Dec. 13, when they head to New Jersey to see the Devils with puck drop slated for 7:30 p.m.

Here are the highlights!

First period:

The Bruins opened the scoring at 15:21 of the first period.

David Pastrnak wrapped the puck around the net to put one past Connor Ingram high blocker side. 1-0 Bruins.

The Bruins took a two-goal lead at 16:10 of the first period.

Trent Frederic dished a pass to Charlie Coyle parked out front where he tapped the puck low past Ingram. 2-0 Bruins.

Second period:

The Bruins extended their lead at 2:02 of the second period on the power play.

After sending a pass to Pastrnak, Shattenkirk stayed down low to receive a pass back from him and fire one past Ingram from inside the left-wing circle. 3-0 Bruins.

The Coyotes bounced back at 2:50 of the second period.

Zucker found Keller inside the left face-off circle where he put a wrist shot past Linus Ullmark’s glove. 3-1 game.

The Coyotes scored another quick goal to close the gap at 3:21 of the second period.

Michael Carcone picked up a loose puck which Matt Poitras couldn’t get to and headed to the slot to get a wrist shot by Ullmark. 3-2 game.

The Bruins cushioned their lead at 9:12 of the second period.

Matt Poitras sent a short bounce pass off the boards forward to Danton Heinen to pick up and then skate to the slot and put a wrist shot past Ingram’s glove. 4-2 Bruins.

Third period:

The Coyotes cut into their deficit at 3:20 of the third period.

Matias Maccelli sent a short pass to Lawson Crouse in the slot for a quick wrist shot past Ullmark. 4-3 game.

The Bruins answered back at 14:29 of the third period with Pastrnak’s second goal of the game.

Morgan Geekie backhanded a pass to Pastrnak crashing the net where he slid a low shot past Ingram’s skate. Final score: 5-3 Bruins.