As the NHL calendar flips to December, the Boston Bruins find themselves in a familiar, yet precarious position - second in the Atlantic Division, but in an Eastern Conference playoff race that’s tighter than a two-on-one rush. Nothing is guaranteed, and with the standings shifting almost nightly, the Bruins are just a few wins - or losses - away from either solidifying their postseason path or slipping into the chaos below the cut line.
December won’t offer much breathing room. Boston kicks off the month on the road in Detroit and wraps things up in Edmonton on New Year’s Eve, facing off against former teammate Trent Frederic and the Oilers. It's a coast-to-coast grind that could go a long way in shaping the second half of their season.
Let’s take a look back at what November told us about this Bruins team - the good, the gritty, and the glaring.
Injury Bug Bites Hard
Every team deals with injuries, sure. But the Bruins have been especially snakebit lately.
It started with Charlie McAvoy taking a puck to the face against Montreal - a fluky, painful reminder of how quickly a game can turn. That same night, Viktor Arvidsson went down late, adding to the growing list of banged-up Bruins.
Then came the post-Thanksgiving stretch, where Boston had to skate without David Pastrnak for two straight games. Pavel Zacha missed one as well.
For a team that leans heavily on its top six, missing both Pastrnak and Zacha at the same time is a major disruption. Depth has been tested, and while the Bruins have managed to stay afloat, they’ll need better luck on the health front if they want to keep pace in a stacked Atlantic.
Swayman Stepping Up
One of the biggest questions heading into the season was whether Jeremy Swayman could take the next step and bounce back after an up-and-down campaign. So far, the answer is a resounding yes.
Swayman has been rock-solid, so much so that Marco Sturm leaned on him heavily during a recent four-game road swing, starting him in three of those matchups. The trust paid off - especially in Detroit, where Swayman stole two points with a performance that reminded everyone why he’s such a key piece of this Bruins core.
He’s tracking pucks well, staying composed under pressure, and making the kind of timely saves that shift momentum. If he keeps this up, Boston has a real shot to ride his hot hand into spring.
Penalty Problems Persist
It’s becoming a bit of a theme - the Bruins just can’t seem to stay out of the box. Against Detroit, they were whistled for five penalties, and while the penalty kill came through in a big way, that’s not a sustainable formula. Yes, some of the calls have been questionable, but the bottom line is this: Boston is spending too much time shorthanded, and that’s a dangerous game to play night after night.
Sooner or later, those minutes add up - legs get tired, momentum swings, and the margin for error shrinks. The Bruins have the personnel to clean it up, but it needs to happen sooner rather than later.
Zadorov Making His Presence Felt - Loudly
Nikita Zadorov has never been shy about playing a physical brand of hockey, and in November, he made sure the Toronto Maple Leafs won’t forget him anytime soon.
In two separate games against Toronto - both 5-3 wins for Boston - Zadorov delivered punishing hits that sent a message. First, he laid out Scott Laughton at the blue line in Toronto.
Then, just days later, he caught Auston Matthews with a big hit in the second period, sending the Leafs’ captain straight to the locker room. Whether you love it or hate it, Zadorov’s physicality has become a storyline, especially north of the border.
He’s quickly earned the “public enemy No. 1” label in Toronto, and that edge is something the Bruins have leaned on during tight games.
Geekie’s Goal Surge
Morgan Geekie is turning heads - and lighting lamps. With two more goals against Detroit, he’s already hit the 20-goal mark, and we’re not even at the halfway point of the season. No one’s putting him in the Rocket Richard conversation just yet, but the pace he’s on is undeniable.
Geekie’s production has been a huge lift for a Bruins team that’s had to juggle lines due to injuries. He’s finding soft spots in coverage, finishing chances, and giving Boston some much-needed secondary scoring.
Without him, it’s not a stretch to say the Bruins might be sitting a few rungs lower in the standings. His emergence is one of the more underrated storylines of the season so far.
Beecher Era Ends - Abruptly
The departure of John Beecher from the Bruins organization wasn’t entirely shocking - but the way it went down caught some off guard. General manager Don Sweeney made a calculated gamble, placing Beecher on waivers with the hope of sending him down to Providence in the AHL. The Calgary Flames had other plans, claiming the young forward before he could clear.
Sometimes, a change of scenery is exactly what a player needs. For Beecher, the opportunity in Calgary might be the fresh start he couldn’t quite find in Boston. Still, it’s a reminder of how quickly things can shift in the NHL - one day you’re part of the long-term plan, the next you’re packing your bags for a new locker room.
December Outlook: Buckle Up
The Bruins are staring down another demanding stretch, with a road-heavy December that includes a swing through Western Canada and a New Year’s Eve date in Edmonton. The schedule won’t do them any favors, and with the Eastern Conference playoff race as tight as it is, every point is gold.
If Boston wants to stay in the hunt - and maybe even make a push for the top of the division - they’ll need to clean up the penalties, stay healthy, and continue getting elite goaltending from Swayman. The pieces are there. Now it’s about putting it all together as the calendar turns and the games start to carry even more weight.
The Bruins have been here before. The question now is whether they can stay ahead of the pack - or find themselves fighting for their lives come spring.