Just as it appeared the game was headed to overtime, Marchand dished the puck down low to Pastrnak, who worked around Dallas goalie Kari Lehtonen before burying a shot, stunning the Stars and their faithful at American Airlines Center.
Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask made 40 saves as the under-manned Bruins snapped a two-game losing skid without forwards Patrice Bergeron, David Backes and Rick Nash and defensemen Zdeno Chara, Charlie McAvoy and Torey Krug, among others.
Marchand was definitely the hero, leading the charge after his team trailed 2-0 through two periods. First, he put the Bruins on the board just 77 seconds into the third period when Pastrnak's shot bounced off his leg as he was causing chaos in front of the net.
Marchand then set up Tim Schaller's shorthanded goal at the 9:47 mark of the third period to tie the game 2-2. A lucky bounce on a clearing attempt sprung the pair on a rush that Schaller finished with a backhand deke.
It was a painful defeat for the Stars, who returned home after a winless six-game road trip that put them outside a wildcard spot in the Western Conference playoff chase.
The Stars had early momentum when Esa Lindell opened the scoring just 2:26 into the game, ripping a wrist shot from just inside the top of the left circle that squeezed under Rask's armpit.
Things looked even better for the hosts when captain Jamie Benn netted a shorthanded breakaway tally with 37.5 seconds left in the second period to double the lead. Benn held off the check from Marchand as he deposited a one-handed backhand, giving him five goals and nine points in a six-game stretch.
But the Stars and Lehtonen -- who made 33 saves -- couldn't hold the lead and now sit four points out of a playoff spot with seven games remaining.
--Field Level Media
Boston | Dallas | |
Brad Marchand 3 | Points | Jamie Benn 1 |
Brad Marchand 1 | Goals | Jamie Benn 1 |
Brad Marchand 2 | Assists | Jason Dickinson 1 |
N/A | Power Play Goals | N/A |
Tim Schaller 1 | Short Handed Goals | Jamie Benn 1 |
Tuukka Rask .952 | Save Percentage | Kari Lehtonen .917 |
Tuukka Rask 40 | Saves | Kari Lehtonen 33 |
Team | Shots | Goals | Power Play | Penalty Kill | Penalty Mins | Face Offs Won |
Boston | 36 | 3 | 0-3 | 4-4 | 8 | 33 |
Dallas | 42 | 2 | 0-4 | 3-3 | 6 | 32 |