David Pastrnak has experienced a lot in his hockey career. He’s played in the World Junior Championship, the World Championships and most recently, the World Cup of Hockey. He’s been a first-round draft pick and now thanks to a breakout 2016-17 season, has added his name to the list of NHL 30-goal scorers.

One thing Pastrnak has not done: play in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. That will change Wednesday night.

“It’s exciting that it’s behind the corner now. I’m really looking forward to the game,” Pastrnak told the media Tuesday, before heading north to Ottawa for Wednesday’s Game 1. “But it’s still hockey, right? That’s what I’m focused on: just playing my best hockey. I just want to help the team, but it’s one of those things where there’s going to be over-thinking.”

This past season by far was Pastrnak’s best. The 20-year old set career highs in games played with 72, goals with 32, assists with 36 and points with 68.

In Patrnak’s first two seasons in Boston he saw himself and the rest of his Bruins teammates carry their postseason hopes to the final day of their respective seasons, only to lose each contest and miss out on those playoff hopes.

Now with those experiences behind him, and more NHL games under his belt, Pastrnak seems to think he’s more ready for playoff hockey than he would have been last year, or even the year prior.

“It’s just another year of experience, which is good. Every day I’m still learning, but I definitely feel more prepared than I would have last year,” added Pastrnak.

Along with Brad Marchand, Pastrnak will be expected to provide the Bruins with an offensive spark as they look to solve the puzzle that is the Senators 1-3-1 defensive style. Pastrnak had a goal and an assist in the four games against the Senators this season.

Pastrnak is not the only Bruins youngster making their playoff debut Wednesday night. Ryan Spooner, Charlie McAvoy and Colin Miller are a few others in the same boat as Pastrnak.

“The younger group, the Vatrano’s, I’ll even put Pastrnak in that group because simply he hasn’t had playoff hockey experience at this level, even Ryan Spooner and now Charlie [McAvoy], Colin [Miller] like you said, you know for them they have to adjust quickly, interim head coach Bruce Cassidy said Tuesday about his younger players.

“But we’re not going to sit here and say if they’re not out best players tomorrow night we have no chance because I don’t think that’s fair. They’re going to need their period of time to adjust. Hopefully they get into it quickly.”

The play of the young Pastrnak may very well be the difference in determining whether or not the Bruins advance to the second round.