(Photo credit: Charles LeClaire / Imagn Images)

By: Chad Jones | Follow me on Twitter/X @ShutUpChadJones

For the fourth straight season, David Pastrnak reached the coveted 100-point plateau for the Boston Bruins. In 77 games, the talented winger potted 29 goals and dished out a career-high 71 assists.

But despite reaching the century mark in points again in 2025-2026, Pastrnak’s goal-scoring touch was significantly down compared to the past four campaigns. His 29 light lamplighters were his lowest goal-scoring output in a season since the COVID-shortened 2021 year.

In 48 games that season, Pastrnak tallied 20 scores. 2026 was the first time in his career that he did not score at least 34 goals while appearing in more than 65 games.

Shoot to Score

One primary factor for Pastrnak’s drop in goal-scoring productivity this past season was a dip in overall shots on goal. He posted 261 shots on net this past season, marking the first time in four seasons he did not crack 300 shots on goal in a campaign.

It was clear this season that Pastrnak found himself more in a playmaking position. Evidenced by the fact he grabbed 23 assists on the power play, compared to 23 total points on the man advantage the year prior.

Even Strength Dropoff

With Pastrnak focusing more on dishing the puck to teammates in prime-scoring areas, his five-on-five scoring took a significant hit. He ended the season with 19 even-strength tucks.  

Now, even with Pastrnak settling into a playmaking role within the Bruins offense, fewer than 20 five-on-five goals is certainly a low output for a player of his caliber. That was the lowest total he has accumulated since the aforementioned shortened 2021 season.

Hot and Cold

Pastrnak endured elongated goalless droughts as well. He experienced seven-, eight-, and ten-game stretches without scoring. The longest one came to finish out the season, as Pastrnak’s 29th tally took place on March 25th. In 2025, his two longest scoreless streaks were both 7 games.

On the flip side of that puck, Pastrnak recorded six multi-goal affairs this campaign. Which was only one less than the season prior. So, Pastrnak was either scoring in bunches or not lighting the lamp for long stretches.

Coincidence or Concern?

Next season, it will be fascinating to see if Pastrnak’s elite goal-scoring touch returns. Or if he repeats a campaign with an incredible number of assists and a respectable but not fantastic goal-scoring output.

One would think that his shooting percentage would move closer to his career average. As this past season was just over eleven percent, a full two and a half percentage points lower than his career average.

It is a good sign that Pastrnak found the back of the net three times in six playoff games against the Buffalo Sabres, including that thrilling game 5 overtime winner. But with the winger now 30, has Pastrnak entered a new phase of his career?

Next year will be a helpful indicator of whether 2026 was a season in which Pastrnak’s goal-scoring numbers were down in exchange for him entering a new era of prolific playmaking. Or if he rekindles his goal-scoring touch and ends the season with 40-plus tallies. Either way, Bruins fans should certainly keep an eye on how Pastrnak produces his points next season.