Bruins become fastest team to 100 points in NHL history

BOSTON – David Pastrnak had a goal and two assists just hours after signing a new contract, and the Boston Bruins became the fastest team in NHL history to reach 100 points by beating the Buffalo Sabers 7-1 on Thursday night.

Jakub Lauko scored twice, Dmitry Orlov added a goal and two assists and Jeremy Swayman stopped 26 shots as the Bruins overcame the loss of Brad Marchand to a lower-body injury to win their ninth straight.

Boston improved to 48-8-5 in its 61st game, besting the 1976-77 Montreal team that reached 100 points in 62 games when there were regular-season ties and no extra points for overtime or shootout wins. The Bruins have seven points for overtime and shootout wins in their 101 points.

Pavel Zacha, Patrice Bergeron and Connor Clifton added goals for Boston.

“It’s been really awesome to see that they want to be good,” coach Jim Montgomery said.

Casey Mittelstadt scored for Buffalo, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 35 shots. But his unusual tripping penalty led to Orlov’s power-play goal and turned the game around as the Sabers dropped their second straight.

The win capped off an eventful day for the Bruins. They acquired Tyler Bertuzzi from Detroit and tagged Pastrnak to an eight-year, $90 million extension.

“It probably took a little longer than we hoped, but we finally got across the finish line,” said Boston president Cam Neely. “We are delighted to have him for another eight years.”

Pastrnak drew the odd-numbered penalty against Luukkonen in the second period and then assisted on the subsequent goal. He scored his 43rd goal in an empty-netter in Boston’s five-goal third period that also saw him earn his 40th assist.

Bertuzzi, called a good “sandpaper” guy by Montgomery, will help fill the roles of fellow wing players Taylor Hall and Nick Foligno. Hall was placed on long-term injured reserve and Foligno regular IR.

Last week, GM Don Sweeney picked up Orlov and Garnet Hathaway in a deal with Washington. Orlov has three goals and five assists in four games since the trade.

However, an extended absence of Marchand would hurt Boston. He took a big hit in the second period and did not return for the third.

“We think he’s going to be fine,” Montgomery said.

The Sabres, who lost top line forward Alex Tuch (lower body) last week, again played without tough top defenseman Rasmus Dahlin. He was placed on injured reserve, retroactive to Friday, opening a roster spot for defenseman Riley Stillman, acquired Monday from Vancouver.

Stillman made an immediate impact, recording five hits in a scoreless first period.

And it remained deadlocked until Luukkonen was called for tripping when Pastrnak tried to beat him while skating in alone.

“It was an unfortunate call,” coach Dan Granato said. “Obviously the refs thought it was a turn. Luukky came out and played the puck, but that’s what happens. You’re going to get challenges like that, but obviously it was a momentum swing.”

Orlov scored on a one-timer on the ensuing 4-on-3, and Lauko tapped in a fat rebound 1:26 later to make it 2-0.

Buffalo, in the battle for one of the last playoff spots in the Eastern Conference, was unable to recover.