The Bruins are back home tonight with a chance to stretch their point streak to eight games, and they’ll do it against a Sharks team that already knows what Boston can do to them.
Boston beat San Jose 6-3 in the first meeting on Oct. 13, and this one closes out the season series. The Bruins have points in seven straight, while the Sharks arrive at TD Garden finishing a six-game road trip. San Jose has gone 3-1-1 on the trip and is riding wins in its last two.
Morgan Geekie is one of the quieter storylines inside that Bruins run, but the numbers tell you he’s not flying completely under the radar. He’s got seven assists, good for second on the team, yet only one goal through 11 games after scoring 72 over the last two seasons. Geekie talked about the scoring slump and what it might take to get back on track.
Boston’s next steps are already lined up. The Bruins will have morning skate at 10:30 AM at TD Garden, then they’ll take Sunday off before practicing in Brighton and traveling to Raleigh on Monday morning.
Around the league, the biggest headline was Connor Hellebuyck finally getting moved. The New Jersey Devils acquired the 2024-25 Hart Trophy winner yesterday, on the day his suspension lifted.
Going back the other way: Dawson Mercer, Nico Daws, Nick Bjugstad, Alexander Command, a 2029 2nd-rounder and a 2027 7th-rounder.
After the deal, James Nichols and Daniel Amoia handed out grades on the move.
There’s still more business hanging over Detroit, too. Dylan Larkin has yet to be traded, Simon Edvinsson remains an RFA, and Elliotte Friedman reported on Thursday’s episode of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast that the Red Wings are looking for young centers for their two unhappy players.
In Florida, Paul Maurice was frustrated after the Panthers were blanked 4-0 in Pittsburgh on Thursday. After two straight losses and a 9-1 edge against them over those games, he said he was wondering if “arrogance and softness” had crept into the room and added, “I need to get their attention.”
The Sharks, meanwhile, are not just Boston’s opponent tonight - they’re coming off a 6-2 win in Ottawa. Sheng Peng noted that Igor Chernyshov had been surging before an upper-body injury on Thursday, and that he will “be out a little bit.” Chernyshov had been skating on the first line with Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith, and the numbers showed that line improved with the 20-year-old on it.
Elsewhere, the Avalanche beat the Lightning 6-3 last night, with six different scorers, and that result gives the Bruins a little more breathing room at the top of the Atlantic Division. Aarif Deen broke down the good and bad from that game.
Montreal also banked two points, even without Nick Suzuki for the first time since 2019. The Canadiens didn’t exactly play a thriller, but they did enough to beat the Blackhawks 4-1. Marc Dumont had the highlights.
One more league note: save percentages continue to slide across the NHL. Sportsnet’s Jason Bourne looked at why that trend is still going, even with goalies improving.
In Other News...
James Hagens Is Giving Bruins Fans A Very Different Reason For Hope
James Hagens arrived in Boston with the reputation of a high-end offensive prospect, the kind of young forward Bruins fans naturally expected to eventually tilt the ice with his skill. Early this season, though, the seventh overall pick in the 2025 NHL draft has been turning heads for a very different reason. The 19-year-old has fit into a checking-line assignment and impressed teammates by leaning into the dirty work, showing a willingness to adapt as he faces top competition and learns the pro game from a defensive angle.
The shift has been especially noticeable in the way Hagens has attacked his role away from the puck. Known more as a point producer, he has embraced playing wing and focusing on defense, and his early work has already stood out across the league. For a Bruins team looking for reasons to believe in its next wave of talent, Hagens is offering one built on effort, maturity and a readiness to do whatever the coaches ask. [Read more 🡒]
Morgan Geekie's Bruins Drought Is Becoming Hard To Ignore
Morgan Geekie was one of the Bruins most productive finishers a year ago, leading the club with 39 goals and quickly becoming one of the more reliable sources of offense in the lineup. This season has looked very different so far, though, with the winger still contributing in other ways through seven assists while his goal total has lagged behind what Boston expected from him.
Geekie has been measured about the dry spell, sticking to a selective shooting approach while also acknowledging the need to be more active in generating offense. The next step is finding more of those chances on his own, particularly when turnovers open the ice, because the Bruins would like their top scorer from last season to start turning looks into goals again. [Read more 🡒]
Casey Mittelstadt Is Giving Bruins A Bigger Boost Than Expected
Casey Mittelstadt came into this season with a clear focus after spending the offseason working on his skating, and the early returns have made him look like a more dynamic fit than Boston probably expected. Drafted eighth overall by Buffalo in 2017, Mittelstadt has shown improved speed and a steadier game, the kind of progress that can change how a player is used and how much trust a staff is willing to place in him.
Marco Sturm has noticed the difference, praising Mittelstadts pace and consistency while crediting the work he put in over the summer. Mittelstadt has sounded pleased with where his game is headed, too, and the growing chemistry hes building with James Hagens and Elias Lindholm gives the Bruins another useful layer as they continue sorting out their lineup options. [Read more 🡒]