David Pastrnak scored the shootout-winner. James Hagens (6) and Morgan Geekie (3) scored for the Bruins in regulation. Jeremy Swayman made 21 saves on 23 shots. 

The Bruins nearly opened the scoring when Elias Lindholm played the puck to Nikita Zadorov on a 2-on-1. Zadorov’s shot hit the post, but Will Borgen kept the clearing attempt in the zone. The third line and the second defensive pairing kept the pressure on Vegas, then Lindholm fed James Hagens in the net front to give the Bruins an early lead. 

Hagens’ sixth goal leads all NHL rookies. 

Charlie McAvoy connected with Vegas rookie Trevor Connelly and hit him into the boards behind Swayman. Braeden Bowman responded, engaging McAvoy in a shoving match while Connelly was being tended to on the ice. 

McAvoy sat out two minutes for roughing. Connelly returned to Monday’s game ahead of the second period. 

To start the second period, Braeden Bowman delivered a vicious elbow to Matt Poitras’ face. Poitras left the ice gushing blood and immediately went down the tunnel.

Bowman was hit with a five-minute major and a game misconduct. Poitras did not return to the game.

The Bruins got right to work on the power play. Morgan Geekie played it to David Pastrnak behind the net, and he turned it to Pavel Zacha. Zacha found Geekie in the right circle, and Geekie’s second goal in as many games extended the Bruins’ lead to two. 

Charlie McAvoy took a holding penalty on Mitch Marner, which sent the high-powered Golden Knights’ power play to the ice for the first time tonight. It only took the Golden Knights eight seconds before Mark Stone sliced the Bruins’ lead in half. 

McAvoy said something to the referees as he left the penalty box, so they sent him back to the box for two more minutes. He sat two more minutes for an unsportsmanlike conduct minor, and the Bruins killed the penalty. 

Trevor Connelly tied the game at the 7:23 mark of the third period. Noah Hanifin played the puck through the crease, and Connelly banked a shot off Swayman and in.

For the second straight game, the Bruins needed overtime.

The five minutes did not solve the game, so the Bruins went to a shootout for the first time this season.

David Pastrnak won it for the Bruins in the third round of the shootout.

The Bruins will practice in Brighton on Tuesday and Wednesday. They will travel and take on the Pittsburgh Penguins (5-7-2) for the first time this season at PPG Paints Arena on Thursday.