The Boston Bruins on Sunday became the first team in National Hockey League (NHL) history to reach the milestone of 63 wins in a season with a 5-3 triumph over the Flyers in Philadelphia.
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The Massachusetts team has just surpassed the mark of 62 wins in a campaign of the Detroit Red Wings during the 1995-1996 season and the Tampa Bay Lightning of 2018-2019.
David Pastrnak took charge of his team’s offense with a performance of four points, including a hat-trick, which allowed him to reach the milestone of 60 goals this season. Pastrnak became the second player in Bruins history to achieve such a feat, along with Phil Esposito in 1974-75.
Pastrnak will still have work to do, however, if he wants to top Connor McDavid in the race for the Maurice Richard Trophy. The gifted Edmonton Oilers boasts 64 goals with two games left in the regular season.
Tyler Bertuzzi also added his two cents to the game with three assists.
Both teams quickly got on the mark in the first engagement.
First, Charlie Coyle threaded the needle for Boston 47 seconds into the game. The Flyers responded 45 seconds later thanks to Wade Allison’s ninth of the campaign.
Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman stopped 26 of the 29 pucks he faced.
His vis-à-vis, Felix Sandstrom, yielded five times on the 27 shots he received in his direction.
Quebec forwards AJ Greer and Nicolas Deslauriers got into a fight in the middle of the final engagement.
With two games to play and 131 points in the bank, Jim Montgomery’s men can seize the record for the most points in a season which is 132 held by the 1976-1977 edition of the Montreal Canadiens.