Bruins Beat Golden Knights 3-2 in Shootout as Pastrnak Seals Boston Win

Boston Bruins beat the Vegas Golden Knights 3-2 in a shootout at TD Garden on Monday night, November 2, 2026, after Vegas fought back from a two-goal deficit to force overtime. David Pastrnak scored the only goal of the shootout, and Jeremy Swayman stopped all three Vegas attempts, as the Bruins Golden Knights shootout win gave Boston its second straight victory and its ninth win in its last 12 games.

Boston improved to 11-4-1 and extended its home winning streak to six games. Vegas, which fell to 9-5-1, is now 1-3-2 in its last six games despite earning a point for reaching overtime. Boston outshot Vegas 27-23, and both teams scored a power-play goal in a game that swung from early Boston control to a late Vegas comeback and finally to a one-on-one finish.

Key Points

• Boston beat Vegas 3-2 in a shootout at TD Garden on Monday, November 2, 2026, with David Pastrnak scoring the only shootout goal.
• James Hagens opened the scoring at 7:23 of the first period and Morgan Geekie made it 2-0 on a power play early in the second.
• Mark Stone and Trevor Connelly scored for Vegas, with Connelly tying the game with 12:37 left in regulation.
• Jeremy Swayman made 21 saves and stopped all three Vegas shootout attempts; Carter Hart made 25 saves for Vegas.
• Boston improved to 11-4-1 with a sixth straight home win; Vegas fell to 9-5-1 and is 1-3-2 in its last six.

What Happened

Boston took the lead midway through the first period. Sustained pressure in the Vegas zone continued after Hart turned away a point-blank effort from Nikita Zadorov, and Hagens moved to the front of the net to finish a centring pass from Elias Lindholm on the blocker side at 7:23. Vegas managed only six first-period shots, and Boston looked in control.

The lead doubled early in the second period from a major penalty. Vegas forward Braeden Bowman was assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct for elbowing Matt Poitras in the face, and Boston took advantage of the long power play. At 3:23 of the second, Geekie buried a one-time feed from Pavel Zacha from the bottom of the right circle, with Pastrnak also picking up an assist. It was Geekie's second goal in as many games.

Vegas answered with a power-play goal of its own. At 14:58 of the second period, Stone was in front of the net to score on the rebound of a Tomas Hertl shot, just eight seconds after Jack Eichel won the faceoff that started the setup. The goal cut the deficit to 2-1 and gave Vegas a way back into the game.

The equaliser came in the third period. Connelly, beating Boston defenceman Jonathan Aspirot to the side of the net, finished a pass from behind the net by Massachusetts native Noah Hanifin with 12:37 left in regulation. Mitch Marner, who had already assisted on the Stone goal, was also involved. Neither team scored again in regulation, and a scoreless three-on-three overtime sent the game to a shootout.

In the shootout, Swayman was perfect and Pastrnak was decisive. Swayman denied Connelly to open the shootout, and after Hart stopped Casey Mittelstadt at the far post, the goalkeepers traded saves until the third round. Marner hit the post for Vegas, and Pastrnak then moved to his backhand to deke Hart before slipping a forehand shot home for the winner. It was Boston's first shootout of the season.

Background and Context

The result continued a strong early-season run for Boston. At 11-4-1, the Bruins have won nine of their last 12 games, a 9-2-1 stretch that has made TD Garden a difficult place to visit. The win over Vegas extended Boston's home winning streak to six games, built on tight goaltending, timely power-play goals and, on Monday, a shootout performance to match.

Bruins Golden Knights Shootout Decided by Pastrnak

The Bruins Golden Knights shootout was, in the end, a test of composure as much as skill. Boston had survived a late Vegas push in regulation, a scoreless overtime in which both teams had chances, and a shootout in which the first two rounds produced no goals. When Marner hit the post in the third round, the door opened for Pastrnak, and he walked through it with the kind of finish that has defined his career: a move to the backhand to draw Hart out of position, then a forehand finish into the space that opened up.

Reactions and Talking Points

The immediate talking point was the contrast between the goaltenders in the shootout. Swayman stopped all three Vegas attempts, including Connelly to open the shootout and Eichel, who went wide as the puck bounced off Swayman's legs. Hart stopped Mittelstadt at the far post in the first round and held Boston scoreless until Pastrnak's winner, but a shootout is decided by a single goal, and Pastrnak provided it.

Why It Matters

Early-season games in November do not decide championships, but they do decide habits, and Boston's habits are encouraging. The Bruins have won nine of 12, they are winning at home, they are getting goals from Hagens and Geekie as well as Pastrnak, and they are getting goaltending that can win a shootout outright. A team that can win after losing a two-goal lead is a team that does not panic.

What Happens Next

Boston heads back on the road to face the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday, November 5, at 7 p.m. ET, a test of whether the Bruins can carry their home form away from TD Garden. After that, Boston returns home to face the Florida Panthers on Sunday, November 8, at 1 p.m. ET, followed by a home game against the Montreal Canadiens on November 12.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won the Bruins vs Golden Knights game on November 2, 2026?
Boston won 3-2 in a shootout at TD Garden, with David Pastrnak scoring the only shootout goal.

Who scored for Boston in regulation?
James Hagens opened the scoring at 7:23 of the first period, and Morgan Geekie scored on a power play at 3:23 of the second period.

Who scored for Vegas?
Mark Stone scored on a power play at 14:58 of the second period, and Trevor Connelly tied the game with 12:37 left in regulation.

What are the teams' records after the game?
Boston improved to 11-4-1, while Vegas fell to 9-5-1. Boston has won six straight at home; Vegas is 1-3-2 in its last six games.

Who do the Bruins and Golden Knights play next?
Boston visits Pittsburgh on Thursday, November 5, while Vegas visits Pittsburgh on Tuesday, November 3.

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Sources: Reuters / Field Level Media, November 3, 2026; NESN live coverage, November 2-3, 2026. The featured image is an illustrative generated image, not a photograph of the game.