Pastrňák's Christmas fantasy. Boston won, other Czechs also shone in the NHL

Czech forward David Pastrnak continues to shine in the NHL. This time, he helped Boston win 4-3 with two accurate shots on the ice in New Jersey. He scored in the eleventh game in a row (10+5). His countrymen also scored points for the Bruins. David Krejčí had two assists, Pavel Zacha one. Martin Nečas was also seen playing for Karolina. It won 6-5 against Philadelphia, and the Czech striker recorded two assists on goal. Arizona beat Los Angeles 2-1 at home on penalties thanks to Karel Vejmelka's performance. The Czech goalkeeper stopped 26 shots, did not allow any goal from three penalties and became the second star of the match. The same award went to Lukas Dostal, who did not prevent 42 saves to beat Anaheim of Calgary 2-3 in overtime.

Photo: Bill Kostroun, CTK/AP

The joy of Boston hockey players. Defenseman Hampus Lindholm (27), goaltender Linus Ullmark (35) and David Pastrnak celebrate victory on ice for the New Jersey Devils.Photo: Bill Kostroun, ČTK/AP

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Photo: Bill Kostroun, CTK/AP

Defeated New Jersey Devils goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood (29) kneels helplessly, with the Czech trio of Boston David Pastrňák (88), Pavel Zacha (18) and David Krejčí (46) enjoying the background. Photo: Bill Kostroun, ČTK/AP

Photo: Karl B DeBlaker, ČTK/AP

Forward Martin Nečas (88) of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates during an NHL game. Photo: Karl B DeBlaker, ČTK/AP

Boston won the game on the ice in New Jersey in the middle of twenty minutes, scoring four goals. First, Bergeron led to a 1-1 draw and scored great moments from the Czech pillars of the Bruins. At 24:34, Boston gave Pastrnak the lead when he cleverly transferred a shot into the net between the goalie's cushions from close range. He was assisted on the goal by compatriots Krejčí and Zacha. Five minutes later, "Pasta" was able to celebrate another goal. He fired a shot from the circle into the top corner, Krejčí again participated in the action with a pass.

"I play with Krejci, who never shoots, and someone in the line has to. That's my role. I shoot a lot and I'm glad it's falling," Pastrnak explained. He also noticed that he likes hockey and likes games. He runs the NHL with Boston. But the whole team is playing well, which increases our confidence and helps all of us," added the Czech player. He has scored 24 goals this season, better than Tage Thompson (26) and Connor McDavid (30). In terms of productivity, Pastrnak is sixth with a record of 24+23.

The Bruins added a fourth shot in the second period, and Vitek Vanecek found the Devils' net in the final period. He didn't concede a goal and New Jersey managed to close the gap to 3-4, but Boston didn't let them win. Pastrnak was voted the best player of the match

The match was specific to Zach. The Czech forward first appeared in New Jersey, for whom he played seven seasons and who traded him to Boston in the summer. The club prepared an action video montage for their former player, who played in the first third, and the audience rewarded Zach with applause for his services.

Carolina beat Philadelphia 6-5 on home ice, with Czech forward Martin Nečas assisting on two winners' goals. In the 15th minute, he recorded a pass after Noesen's power play and it was 2-1, and for the second time he reserved Svechnikov's goal for 4-2.

The Flyers lost 6-2 after two periods, but tightened up in the final twenty minutes. He reduced it to 5-6, but the visitors could not do more.

Dallas won at home against Montreal despite losing 2-0. He was helped by three power plays, and he sealed the victory with a goal to an empty net. Czech striker Radek Faksa did not score.

David Rittich will be linked with Alexander Ovechkin's move to second place in the NHL's all-time standings. Washington Cannon scored twice in a 4-1 win over Winnip, not only equalizing the legendary Gordie Howe, but also leapfrogging him. The thirty-seven-year-old striker has scored 802 goals, surpassed only by Wayne Gretzky (894).

Ovechkin opened the scoring when he beat Rittich with a right-wheel shot and added a second shot in Winnipeg's goalless game. The Czech goalkeeper saved 23 of 26 shots from the match.

"When I came to the league, I didn't think about breaking any records, let alone Gordie Howe or Wayne Gretzky," Ovechkin said. I was especially happy to play here, I wanted to do my best. What is happening is a miracle for me," he added.

With his 802nd career goal, Alex Ovechkin overtook Gordie Howe to become the NHL's second-leading scorer list. Ovechkin is now ahead of only Wayne Gretzky (894), scoring the most goals in NHL history. See how Ovechkin compares himself to "Mr. Hockey" here: https://t.co/Md9GBR9fej.twitter.com/rlRkt3F5rj

— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) December 24, 2022

In Arizona, both goals came on power play. The hosts led from the tenth minute through Nick Schmaltz, Los Angeles equalized at 31:54. Vejmelka was beaten by Alex Iafallo with a right-wheel shot over the catcher. Another Czech goalkeeper did not allow and in the penalty shootout only Nick Bjugstad assured himself.

"Veggie was great as ever. We are grateful to have him," Bjugstad said of Vejmelka. When we scored the first goal, I thought about winning. I wanted to catch as many shots as possible to help her get there. I'm glad we made it," added the Czech goalkeeper.

Dostal, who scored for the fifth consecutive time since the start and shot more than 90 percent each time, conceded a goal for the first time in the fifth minute. He was beaten from the blue line by Michael Stone. Anaheim equalized in the first period with a Mason McTavish strike, but Brett Ritchie struck from a backhand from close range early in the middle third.

The California club equalized again in the 44th minute when Jakob Silfverberg scored. The bonus point was scored by a more active Calgary thanks to a goal by Rasmus Andersson.

"He's been catching great from the first moment he was in the lineup. I think he is at the beginning of a great career - praised the Czech goalkeeper Silfverberg.

NHLCarolina - Philadelphia 6:5 (3:1, 3:1, 0:3)Goals: 4. and 20. Quick, 15. Noesen (Nečas), 26. A. Svechnikov (Nečas), 28. Martinook, 38. Kotkaniemi — 12th place Sanheim, 22. T. DeAngelo, 47. Seeler, 48. Submitted by Laughton on 53. Finite. Shots on goal: 37:31. Attendance: 18,680. Match stars: 1. Martinook, 2. Fast, 3. J. Staal (all Carolina). New Jersey - Boston 3:4 (1:0, 0:4, 2:0)Goals: 17. J. Hughes, 52. Submitted by Tatar, 54. Sharangovich — 25th and 30th. Pastrnak (both Krejci, first Zach), 24. Submitted by Bergergon on 37. DeBrusk. Shots on goal: 40:23. Vitek Vanecek played for New Jersey from the third period and did not concede five shots. Attendance: 16,514. Match stars: 1. Pastrnak (Boston), 2. Tatar (New Jersey), 3. DeBrusk (Boston). Washington - Winnipeg 4:1 (1:0, 1:0, 2:1)Goals. 19th and 59th Ovechkin, 33. Milan, 44. Dowd — 50th place Stenlund. Shots on goal: 27:26. David Rittich played 58-03 minutes for Winnipeg, conceding three goals on 26 shots and a shooting percentage of 88.5 percent. Attendance: 18,573. Match stars: 1. Ovechkin, 2. Lindgren, 3. Sheary (all Washington). New York Islanders - Florida 5:1 (0:1, 2:0, 3:0)Goals: 26. and 56. Submitted by Beauvillier, 40. Submitted by Plock on 48. Installments, 49. Paris — 9. M. Tkaczuk. Shots on goal: 43:23. Attendance: 17,255. Match stars: 1. Beauvillier, 2. Lee, 3. Parise (all NY Islanders). Dallas - Montreal 4:2 (0:1, 1:1, 3:0)Goals: 36. and 43. Submitted by Hintz on 55. Johnston, 60. Kiviranta — 5th place Submitted by Evans on 23. Pezzetta. Shots on goal: 36:24. Attendance: 18,532. Match stars: 1. Hintz, 2. Robertson (both Dallas), 3. Pezzetta (Montreal). Nashville - Colorado 2:3 after overtime (1:0, 1:1, 0:1 - 0:1) Goals: 13. Submitted by Johansen on 27. Duchene — 33rd place Submitted by Rantanen, 56. Compher, 65. Girard. Shots on goal: 39:46. Attendance: 17,159. Match stars: 1. Girard, 2. Georgiev (both Colorado), 3. Saros, Nashville. Chicago - Columbus 5:2 (2:0, 2:1, 1:1)Goals: 14. P. Kane, 16. Domi, 23. Submitted by Athanasiou on 24. Raddysh, 53. J. Toews — 34th place Submitted by Marchenko, 44. Bjork. Shots on goal: 38:29. Attendance: 17,108. Stars of the match: 1. J. Toews, 2. P. Kane, 3. Stalock (all Chicago). Edmonton - Vancouver 2:5 (2:0, 0:2, 0:3)Goals: 10. Ryan, 20. McDavid — 21st and 39th J.T. Miller, 53rd and 60th Submitted by Horvat on 58. Mikheev. Shots on goal: 33:30. Attendance: 18,347. Match Stars: 1. J.T. Miller, 2. Horvat, 3. Delia (all Vancouver). Arizona - Los Angeles 2:1 after loneliness. Penalties (1:0, 0:1, 0:0 - 0:0, 1:0)Goals: 10. Schmaltz, the decisive himself. Rally Bjugstad - 32. Iafallo. Shots on goal: 24:27. Karel Vejmelka played the entire game for Arizona, conceding one goal from 27 shots and had a 96.3 percent success rate. Attendance: 4600. Match stars: 1. Schmaltz, 2. Vejmelka, 3. Keller (all Arizona). Vegas GK - St. Louis 5:4 after loneliness. penalties (1:0, 2:3, 1:1 - 0:0, 1:0)Goals: 25th and decisive. Mark Stone raid, 6. Submitted by Pietrangelo on 39. Submitted by Amadio, 59. Stephenson — 21st place Submitted by Buchniewicz on 27. Submitted by Tarasenko on 29. Foulk, 51. Acciari. Shots on goal: 32:29. Attendance: 18,125. Match Stars: 1. Stephenson, 2. Amadio, 3. Mark Stone (all Vegas). Anaheim - Calgary 2:3 after extra time (1:1, 0:1, 1:0 - 0:1) Goals: 17. Submitted by McTavish, 44. Silfverberg — 5th place Submitted by Michael Stone on 23. Submitted by Ritchie, 63. Andersson. Shots on goal: 23:45. Lukas Dostál played the entire match for Anaheim, conceding three goals from 45 shots and had a 93.3 percent success rate. Attendance: 16,094. Stars of the match: 1. Andersson (Calgary), 2. Dostál (Anaheim), 3. E. Lindholm (Calgary).