Familiar playoff opponents like Pastrnak were recipients of boos from Toronto fans at Scotiabank Arena.
David Pastrnak knew exactly where he was when he spoke to the media following his team’s 7-4 loss to ‘Team Matthews’ in the final of the NHL All-Star Game on Saturday.
When asked about all four Toronto Maple Leafs winning the exhibition showcase at Scotiabank Arena, Pastrnak smiled.
“Good for them, they needed some wins, they got the win today.”
The Boston Bruins star forward is no stranger to the Maple Leafs, having gone against the likes of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander and Morgan Rielly in two first-round Stanley Cup playoff series in 2018 and 2019. In both years, the Bruins defeated the Leafs in seven games.
Pastrnak, who played on ‘Team McDavid’ captained by Edmonton Oilers Star Connor McDavid, had a goal and an assist in the loss. Every time he touched the puck, he was met with boos from the mostly pro-Leafs crowd who have a long memory.
The Czech star was full of chirps, including when he spoke about Team Matthews celebrity co-captain Justin Bieber.
“He’s a Leaf fan, so that’s a bit of a step back.”
Pastrnak wasn’t the only player to hear boos. Tampa Bay Lightning star Nikita Kucherov was also the recipient of some heavy booing, although much of it started when it looked like he wasn’t putting much effort into the All-Star Skills competition on Friday night.
Pastrnak’s chirp could have also been directed at Boston’s dominance over the last two years. Last season, Boston set brand new NHL regulation season records in wins (65) and points (135) and currently leads the Atlantic Division with a 31-9-9 record while the Leafs have fallen into fourth place with a 25-14-8 record.
The Maple Leafs are set to resume their season on Monday when they host the New York Islanders.