The 2020 NHL All-Star game is history, but it was a perfect showcase for Bruins’ David Pastrnak, who had a chance to show the rest of the NHL that does not see him on a regular basis, how impressive his talents are. His powerful scoring display netted him six points on four goals and two assists in the two games played 3-on-3, and he was named the All-Star Game MVP. Although disappointed with his Atlantic Division’s loss 5-4 to the Pacific Division, he was happy to have the opportunity to serve as Captain for the Atlantic team. Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy headed the Atlantic Division bench, utilizing his right-winger, Pastrnak, in critical spots, with #88 responding with a hat trick in the first game, and a goal and an assist in the Championship game.
Pastrnak returns to the NHL wars on Friday (8:00pm) as the Winnipeg Jets host the Bruins following the Bs nine-day layoff. The Minnesota Wild will provide the opposition for Boston’s back-to-back schedule on Saturday night (8:00pm). The Bruins will next return to TD Garden ice on Tuesday to take on the Vancouver Canucks (7:00pm), in another back-to-back soiree, with the second half taking place on the road versus the Chicago Blackhawks ice on Wednesday (8 p.m.).
68th ANNUAL BEANPOT TOURNAMENT
TD Garden will host the 68th Annual Beanpot Tournament, beginning Monday, February 3. The first game’s puck drop is at 5:00pm, with the Northeastern Huskies coached by Jim Madigan versus the Harvard Crimson coached by former Bruin Ted Donato. The second matchup will have the Boston College Eagles with Jerry York running the bench, versus the Boston University Terriers led by coach Albie Keenan, beginning at approximately 8:00pm. The Northeastern Huskies have won the last two Beanpot titles.
The tournament concludes on Monday, February 10 with the Consolation Game beginning at 4:30pm, and the Championship Game taking the ice at 7:30pm.This four-team tournament has been the official battle for Boston’s college hockey bragging rights since the Beanpot first began in December of 1952. New England Sports Network (NESN) will deliver live and exclusive coverage for the 19th consecutive year. NESN will debut a Beanpot preview show on Friday, January 31 that will include pre-tournament analysis and interviews from Monday’s media day event. Semifinal doubleheader coverage begins Monday, February 3 at 5:00pm and Championship begins at 7:00pm on Monday, February 10 with ‘Prelude to a Championship, a 30-minute pre-game show, followed by the championship match at 7:30pm. NESN’s Tom Caron will handle the play-by-play duties, with Billy Jaffe joining him as color analyst in the Beanpot broadcast booth. Also on NESN’s broadcast team is Guerin Austin as rink side reporter, Adam Pellerin as studio host, and former Bruin Andrew Raycroft in the capacity of studio analyst.