This is a pivotal year for David Pastrnak. Not only is he playing for his next contract, but after an injury-filled and up-and-down sophomore season, there was a real question as to which direction his career was going to go.

But through 12 games after last night’s 5-2 win over the Blue Jackets, it’s clearly headed up. The 20-year-old right winger is second in the league in goals with nine, trailing only Winnipeg’s Patrik Laine (11 in 14 games), while at the same time playing on a line with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand that needs to be responsible.

But while playing on that line has its benefits, coach Claude Julien believes it’s a two-way street.

“I think his youthfulness and his energy and all that has made those other two guys good as well. I know they’re good players, but he’s been a good fit on that line,” said Julien. “His experience he’s gained over the last couple of years and really realizing what he needed to do to get better.”

His improved one-timer was on display in the B’s loss to Montreal when he ripped a power-play shot which Carey Price had little chance to stop. And Price has a chance to stop almost everything.

“If you walked up to the net and placed the puck where you wanted it, that’s where you’d place it,” said David Backes. “He’s firing on all cylinders right now.”

This year, Pastrnak has often been the first player on the ice, a bag of pucks in tow.

“Obviously, I’m shooting the puck a lot in practice and I’m trying to get better every day,” said Pastrnak. “The more pucks you shoot, your shot is obviously going to get better. I’m just going to keep shooting. It’s going in so far.”

Playing on the Bergeron line — which he did briefly last year and had his struggles — has helped him grow as a player.

“I try to listen to what they want me to do and where they want me to be,” he said. “Obviously, those two guys have played together for a long time and it’s not always easy to come in as the third guy. But I know what I have to do — give them the time and listen and learn, be strong on the puck and learn the game they like to play.”

There was a brief scare last night when he took a big hit from Zach Werenski and had to go to the room in the first period, but he quickly returned to action.

Honor the heroes

Last night was Military Appreciation Night at the Garden and the evening hit home for Backes, whose best friend is a Marine.

“He did three tours in the sandbox, and that just increases your pride to have a close relationship with someone that’s been over there, that’s had friends that have not come back with him, and being able to defend our freedom and what this country stands for. It’s an awesome thing and something you can get behind,” said Backes. . . .

Backes also weighed in on the presidential election of Donald Trump. While not mentioning his candidate, he essentially said it’s time to move forward.

“It was a surprise to I think the majority of Americans, what the result was, but the American people have spoken. I haven’t had a lot of political commentary in my day, but I think the rhetoric and the tone since the election has toned down and become more presidential and binding together and coming together on the same team, because we’re all Americans,” said Backes, the Team USA captain at the World Cup.

“That’s the important thing about going out and voting, you have your voice and you get to speak in this democracy. Hopefully the country’s in an upward trajectory as we have been lately and continue on that trend so that we all prosper together.”

Julien was jokingly asked if he had sent a letter to Trump before the election, like his friend Bill Belichick. He was having none of it.

“I’m Canadian,” he said. “I have no opinions on anyone else’s opinions.”

The bruised Noel

The Bruins announced that Noel Acciari will be out for approximately four weeks with a lower body injury, which the scrappy fourth-line forward suffered in the third period of the B’s 4-0 victory over the Sabres on Monday. Acciari has two assists in 12 games. Jimmy Hayes has been manning his right winger spot. . . .

Anton Khudobin (hand) will make the road trip but Kevan Miller is not scheduled to travel, though he could meet up with the team at some point, said Julien.