RALEIGH, N.C. — After going more than a month without putting a puck in the net, Bruins winger Morgan Geekie finally potted one, two, and a third goal Tuesday night, boosting his team-leading haul to 37 for the season.
Geekie acknowledged a sense of relief, albeit with requisite regret that the goals came amid a 6-5 overtime loss to the Hurricanes and with the little air in the Eastern Conference standings.
“I’ve said before, it’s always nice [to score],” noted Geekie. “But on days like this, today, it doesn’t really mean anything, right? So, for sure, mentally I guess [there’s relief], but I don’t know … it feels like you can come in here and it doesn’t matter if you score six goals. Losses like that are tough to swallow, for sure.”
Geekie had gone 17 straight games without a goal, dating to his 34th in a 6-3 loss at Nashville on March 5. If they’re going to get in the playoffs, and have any hope of advancing to Round 2, the Bruins need him to get his stick going.
“He’s a heckuva shooter and player for us,” said David Pastrnak, whose handiwork around the net fed Geekie’s first two goals. “So it’s good he got the goals — I am happy for him.”
Geekie had good scoring chances in Sunday’s overtime loss to the Flyers, too, perhaps giving him some traction into this game.
“When you play like he did in Philly,” noted Pastrnak, “youing going to score, have looks. Good on him. Today it paid off. He’s always around the net.”
Pastrnak’s two assists gave him 29-70–99 for the season. One more point and he will join Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito as the only Bruins to click off four consecutive 100-point seasons.
“Sorry, I can’t answer that right now, I am too frustrated,” said Pastrnak, when asked what it would mean for him to reach triple digits again. “Wish it could have come today — with a game-winning goal maybe.”
Kevin Paul Dupont can be reached at kevin.dupont@globe.com.
