BOSTON – David Pastrnak on fresh ice is usually a problem for the opposition. The Boston Bruins superstar is dynamite in all situations, but especially dangerous in the first shift situations after TD Garden’s Olympia ice movers complete their rounds.

Just eleven ticks into Thursday’s second period, Pastrnak was in the penalty box as he hooked Roope Hintz of the Dallas Stars. It wasn’t the first time Pastrnak was whistled during this period.

Later in the second, Pastrnak was chasing a puck in the offensive zone when he wiped out Matt Dumba. It ended one of the Bruins’ better down bursts.

It’s bad enough when Pastrnak, the Bruins’ best player, takes himself off the ice. It’s even worse when the opponents score on the power play.

“There is no doubt about that,” Pastrnak replied after the 5-2 defeat when asked whether he took too many penalties. “I think I took two penalties. I honestly can’t remember taking as many penalties in my career as I did this season. You can leave that first punishment alone. I just tried to take him down. But the second is, frankly, unfortunate. I think I was trying to get to the puck and speared the guy. Definitely bad on my part. The team cannot be in a shorthanded situation twice in one game. I definitely took too many penalties today.”

Pastrnak has seven minor penalties in eight games. His percentage of 0.86 minors per game is well above last season’s percentage (0.20). He was called up to 16 minors in 82 games in 2023-2024.

It would have been one thing if the Bruins played well, confidently and with sufficient purpose. In previous years, the penalty kill came to the fore when the Bruins committed unnecessary fouls.

But the Bruins have retreated. It shows in their play.

“Our attitude has to move in a better, healthier direction,” coach Jim Montgomery said. “It’s like you’re trying to control what you can control, which is trying to excel in your role. Our attitude is not in the moment. They are concerned with results. And when you are results-oriented, you tend to take too many punishments. Because you get frustrated quickly. And you tend to turn the puck over a lot because you don’t want to work for the offense. You want results immediately. And that attitude of not being willing to work for what we want to achieve and achieve our team play is causing some problems at the moment.”

As a result, the penalty kill broke both times Pastrnak was in the box. At the first opportunity, the Stars made Hampus Lindholm and Johnny Beecher pay for two failed clean sheets. Jamie Benn looped a pass to Jason Robertson in the bumper. Jeremy Swayman had no chance against Robertson’s fast attack.

IN THE FRONT! pic.twitter.com/pbbgUiuzIT

— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) October 25, 2024

Before the second power play goal, Mason Marchment caught all four penalty killers as they leaned toward the left side of the ice. Marchment sent a slot-line pass to Tyler Seguin, who was all alone on the other end. The ex-Bruin had all day to advance the puck inside the right faceoff spot and fire the puck past Swayman.

5 games, 4 goals. Seggy is hot. pic.twitter.com/YgaHikOvRx

— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) October 25, 2024

Pastrnak wasn’t the only player to visit the penalty area in the second. Parker Wotherspoon retired for interference after missing a clearing attempt. On the PK, Charlie McAvoy tried to kill a play high in the Boston zone. But before McAvoy could close, Marchment set up Matt Duchene for a two-on-one rush with Logan Stankoven against Lindholm. Stankoven received Marchment’s pass and slid the puck past Swayman.

“You can’t take that many penalties in the second,” Montgomery said. “It is the most difficult period to get changes in criminal homicide. So guys end up tired there. When guys are tired, they will make mistakes and not execute on them. That happened with two of those goals.”

Pastrnak scored one of the Bruins’ two goals. But it was during a four-on-four game. He generated nothing at five-on-five when playing with Brad Marchand and Elias Lindholm on the No. 1 line. Pastrnak did nothing in a game-high 4:25 of power play time.

Pastrnak, more than any of his teammates, has the offensive talent to change outcomes. But he has just one five-on-five goal. In a team-high 37:43 PP time, Pastrnak has scored just twice.

Obviously, Pastrnak can’t score if he’s whistled off the ice. The Bruins pay Pastrnak $11.25 million annually to score goals and chase wins. Do not sit in the penalty area.

(Photo: Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)