David Pastrnak Even-Strength Goals Tie Esposito Mark for Bruins

David Pastrnak scored early in the second period to tie Phil Esposito for third place in Boston Bruins history with 289 even-strength goals, and the Boston Bruins beat the Los Angeles Kings 4-1 on Saturday night at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The goal was Pastrnak's fourth of the season. Boston won its fifth straight game and completed a sweep of California's three NHL teams.





How did David Pastrnak tie Phil Esposito?


David Pastrnak tied the Boston Bruins game at 1-1 at 2:43 of the second period against the Los Angeles Kings. Pastrnak collected a loose puck in transition, skated the other way, and beat Kings goaltender Anton Forsberg with a wrist shot from the right circle.


The Associated Press reported that the goal was Pastrnak's 289th goal at even strength, tying Phil Esposito for third-most in Boston Bruins history. Even-strength goals measure scoring outside the power play, so the mark reflects sustained production at full strength over Pastrnak's career with Boston.


Pastrnak finished the Los Angeles Kings game with a goal and an assist. The two points extended the David Pastrnak point streak to five consecutive games with a point.




How did the Bruins beat the Kings 4-1?


The Los Angeles Kings scored first against the Boston Bruins. Alex Laferriere scored 31 seconds into the game for Los Angeles, putting the Kings ahead 1-0 at Crypto.com Arena.


After David Pastrnak tied the game in the second period, the Boston Bruins and Los Angeles Kings stayed tied 1-1 deep into the third period. Marat Khusnutdinov scored the go-ahead goal with 6:24 remaining in the third period, putting Boston ahead 2-1.


Elias Lindholm and JJ Peterka added empty-net goals for Boston late in the third period. Jeremy Swayman made 25 saves for the Boston Bruins, and Anton Forsberg made 24 saves for the Los Angeles Kings.





Why does the Esposito milestone matter for Pastrnak?


Phil Esposito is one of the defining scorers in Boston Bruins history, and David Pastrnak is now tied with Esposito in this even-strength category, as Pastrnak ties Esposito at 289 goals. The milestone came one game after Pastrnak moved past Brad Marchand for fourth place on the Bruins' all-time goals list against the Anaheim Ducks.


Pastrnak helped Boston in more than one way against Los Angeles. His tying goal ended the Kings' early advantage and gave the Boston Bruins a foothold in a game that remained close until the final minutes.


Boston improved to 7-2-0 with the win over Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Kings fell to 0-4-2 and remain winless this season under coach Peter Laviolette.





What is next for the Boston Bruins?


The Boston Bruins finish their four-game road trip at the Dallas Stars on Tuesday night in Dallas. The game is the next test for a Boston team that has won five straight games, including wins over the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings in California.


For David Pastrnak, the Dallas Stars game is the next chance to pass Phil Esposito outright. One more even-strength goal would give Pastrnak sole possession of third place in Boston Bruins history in that category.


Frequently asked questions


How many even-strength goals does David Pastrnak have?

David Pastrnak has 289 even-strength goals for the Boston Bruins, tied with Phil Esposito for third-most in franchise history, according to the Associated Press.


What was the final score of Bruins vs. Kings?

The Boston Bruins beat the Los Angeles Kings 4-1 on Saturday night at Crypto.com Arena. Marat Khusnutdinov scored the go-ahead goal, and Elias Lindholm and JJ Peterka scored empty-net goals.


When do the Boston Bruins play next?

The Boston Bruins play the Dallas Stars on Tuesday night in Dallas, finishing a four-game road trip.


Sources:

https://nesn.com/boston-bruins/news/david-pastrnak-caught-bruins-legend-remarkable-scoring-category/5ae13b456e41c132fa4cf9cb

https://Www.nhl.com/news/boston-bruins-los-angeles-kings-game-recap-october-17-2026

https://pt.thescore.com/nhl/news/3627635/bruins-grab-5-th-straight-victory-kings-remain-nh-ls-only-winless-team

Location: Boston, MA, USA

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