David Pastrnak followed Brad Marchand’s recommendation, resulting in a stunning season.

A few years ago, shortly after Pastrnak arrived in the NHL in 2014-15, Marchand told his Bruins teammate that “you always have to go for 10 more goals than you think you can do.”

Pastrnak took that advice, reaching the 60-goal mark that season. He knew the 50 mark was within reach, then he scored a hat trick on Sunday that earned him his 60th for the first time in his career — another feat that allowed him to carry the Bruins to first in the NHL and a new record for regular season wins.

“I never really thought I was going to get there,” admitted Pastrnak, who is not, however, lacking in confidence in his abilities. I know what kind of player I am in this league right now, and I had come very close to this achievement before the COVID-19 pandemic, so I knew I had the potential to achieve it. It helps put you in the right frame of mind. »

Three years after the pandemic forced him to settle for 48 goals, Pastrnak joined Connor McDavid in the exclusive group of 60-goal scorers. It’s the first time two players have managed to reach that milestone since Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr rocked the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1995-96 — and it’s been 30 years since two players on two teams different have achieved this.

The Czech will obviously concede the Hart Trophy as NHL Most Valuable Player to McDavid, but that won’t stop him from receiving praise from across the Bruins organization. Head coach Jim Montgomery said Pastrnak accomplished the feat because of a combination of confidence, creativity and competitiveness.

“He personifies those three Cs,” Montgomery said. Then you combine that with his exemplary attitude within the team; he puts the interests of the team first, and he loves it [playing for the Bruins]. »

Good, because it’s not going anywhere. The Bruins signed him to an eight-year, $90 million contract last month that will expire after the 2031 season — the sixth-highest-grossing contract in NHL history.