Bruins Bounce Back in a Big Way, Eye Revenge vs. Canadiens
If there’s been one defining trait of the 2025-26 Boston Bruins, it’s their ability to answer the bell after a rough outing. Not every rebound has been perfect, but lately, they’ve shown a real knack for responding with purpose. Thursday night against the Vegas Golden Knights was another example of that growing resilience.
Coming off a tough 6-2 loss to the Dallas Stars-where Morgan Geekie and Fraser Minten managed to find the back of the net late in a game that was already out of reach-the Bruins had something to prove. And they wasted no time doing it.
Boston came out with energy and precision, striking twice on the power play in the first period-just 30 seconds apart-to set the tone for what would be a 4-3 win over Vegas. The power play has quietly become one of the Bruins’ most reliable weapons this season under head coach Marco Sturm, and on Thursday, it delivered when they needed it most.
Charlie McAvoy opened the scoring on the front end of a double-minor to Tomas Hertl, ripping one home to give Boston the early edge. Then, just half a minute later, David Pastrnak-ever the catalyst-threaded a perfect pass to Elias Lindholm, who buried it for a quick 2-0 lead.
“We were direct, and it went in today. Big two goals.
Obviously, that sets up the confidence and the game when we can help out the team with two goals right away,” Pastrnak said postgame. “We’ve been playing some good hockey in this building.
The fans are behind us, so just have to keep building on that.”
He’s not wrong. TD Garden has been a tough place for opponents lately, and if the Bruins are going to punch their ticket to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, their power play-and their ability to feed off the home crowd-will be critical.
Eyes on Montreal
Circle Saturday night on the calendar. The Bruins are hosting the Montreal Canadiens, and if there’s one game this season that’s got a little extra juice, it’s this one.
The last time these two met, right before the Holiday Break, it was a tight game through two periods-tied 2-2 heading into the third. Then Boston collapsed in the final frame, surrendering four unanswered goals in what turned into a 6-2 blowout loss. Montreal had their way, and they let Boston know it.
Now, the Bruins get their chance to return the favor. Not only is this a rivalry matchup with plenty of pride on the line, but it’s also a key opportunity in the standings. Boston enters the game just three points behind Montreal, making this a potential four-point swing in the playoff race.
Expect the Bruins to come out with some fire. They remember what happened last time. And with the home crowd behind them, they’ll be looking to flip the script.
Trade Winds in Vancouver
With the Olympic break just a couple of weeks away, the NHL rumor mill is already heating up. One team that’s reportedly open for business: the Vancouver Canucks.
According to ESPN’s Kevin Weekes, Vancouver is expected to be a seller ahead of the trade freeze, and the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche are two teams to watch closely. Both clubs are firmly in the contender mix and could be looking to add depth or experience for a playoff push.
No deals are imminent yet, but keep an eye on Vancouver. As the deadline approaches, they could be at the center of some significant movement.