Bruins’ Triple Threats

After a slow start to the season, the Bruins offense is back — thanks to the reemergence of the team’s dynamic scoring duo.

Even Tuukka Rask’s long-awaited return Thursday was overshadowed by their latest feat: One night after Brad Marchand’s hat trick versus Montreal, David Pastrnak recorded his own against Philadelphia.

The 3-2 victory, meanwhile, was Boston’s seventh in its last eight games. Over that stretch, the B’s are averaging 4.5 goals per game, scoring five or more in five of those contests — with Marchand and Pastrnak leading the charge.

• The pair have combined for an eye-popping 18 points — including 14 goals — over the last four games.
• It’s the first time Bruins teammates scored hat tricks in back-to-back games since 1998, and in consecutive days since 1982. 
• Since entering the league in 2014-15, Pastrnak has the NHL’s second-most game-opening goals (50) — behind Marchand (52).

Pastrnak ($6.7M) and Marchand ($6.1M) carry the club’s second- and third-largest cap hits this season, respectively. The former is set to be an unrestricted free agent in 2023, while the latter’s contract doesn’t expire until 2025.

Complemented by one of the NHL’s strongest defenses (2.53 GA/G, fifth in the NHL), Boston’s offense could be the key to winning the Eastern Conference for the fourth time since 2011.