Pastrnak hat trick downs Lightning, 3-2

In Boston, David Pastrnak hit for a hat trick on Thursday to help guide the Bruins to a 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.“Obviously it’s a big win,” Pastrnak said. “Our main focus is to focus on our game and grow our game. We have tons of games left. Obviously, to beat a great team like Tampa is a confidence booster. I think at the same time, we deserved to win today. I think we were the better team.”

Jeremy Swayman made 22 saves in the Bruins win.

Boston improved to 40-19-5.

“This is the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions, so we’re excited we won and played well, but we’re not getting ahead of ourselves here,” Boston head coach Bruce Cassidy said. “We know who Tampa Bay is, they know who they are, and the road runs through them eventually.

Erik Haula assisted all three Pastrnak goals.

Brandon Hagel and Steven Stamkos were the Tampa strikers.

“I think there were spurts in the game where we were on our game, playing well, and there were other times we kind of let it slip away,” the Lightning’s Anthony Cirelli said. “We’re battling out there, and sometimes it doesn’t go your way. So, we’ve got to keep working, and get back at it.”

Tampa dropped to 39-18-6.

“Part of you is sitting here, saying ‘Hey, we’ve got a veteran team. We’ve been there before, won a couple times, and we’ll come out of it.’ The other part of you is saying, ‘Why are we in this at this point in the season?'” Tampa head coach Jon Cooper said. “Teams go through this. It’s 82 games. … We’re better than this. If we’re going to execute the way we’re executing right now, it’s not going to get better any time soon.”

The Lightning have lost six of their last eight games, all in regulation.

“I love that feeling of having butterflies and being a little nervous. … It’s good to get the first game under my belt, and get a win,” Boston’s Hampus Lindholm said. “Like I said in the interview between periods, my girlfriend says I look good in black and yellow, so that’s all I need to hear.”

Andrei Vasilevskiy made 36 saves in the Tampa loss.