The Bruins have made a habit of waiting until the last act to take over.
That was obvious in the season opener against the New York Rangers, when Boston’s offense finally broke through in the final five minutes of a scoreless game and buried New York 3-0. It was a fast first hint at the kind of late-game punch this team has shown through its first 12 games.
The pattern has been hard to miss. Boston has outscored its opponent in the third period in nine of those 12 games, and that stretch has helped define the way this team is winning right now. Head Coach Marco Sturm has likely delivered some version of the old hockey standby - "If you win this period, you win the game." - at plenty of second intermissions already, because the Bruins keep backing it up.
It has shown up in more than one way. Boston outscored the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings 3-0 in the third period in back-to-back games on its West Coast trip. The Bruins also finished off the Philadelphia Flyers in a 3-1 win, then closed out their most recent victories over the Nashville Predators, 2-0, and the San Jose Sharks, 4-2.
The issue, at least from a devil’s advocate angle, is that Boston could probably use a little more of that urgency before the third period arrives. There have been nights when the Bruins have spent the first two periods searching for rhythm, only to flip the switch late.
That can work for a while, but it leaves little room for error. If the early-game issues start showing up more often, the fix usually won’t be hard to identify.
Still, what Boston is doing in the final frame is more than just a nice trend. The numbers are loud.
The Bruins have scored 22 goals in the third period, an average of 1.83 per game, while allowing only eight, or 0.67 per game. That plus-14 differential is a big reason they sit first in the Atlantic Division.
The Sharks game added one more layer to the picture. Sturm would rather not see a shootout-style finish, but Boston’s three goals in a 3:33 span showed a burst of offense that may have been underestimated before the season began.
Inside the room, players have pointed to the team’s youth movement as part of the reason the atmosphere feels looser and more enjoyable. Maybe that younger energy is helping the Bruins stay fresh when games tighten up. Whatever the explanation, it’s working for now - and Boston will try to keep that third-period edge going for the next 72 games.
In Other News...
Will Borgen Is Giving The Bruins Something They Desperately Needed
The Bruins knew they needed help on the back end when they sent backup goalie Joonas Korpisalo to the Rangers for Will Borgen on July 1, and so far the move has given them exactly the kind of steady presence they were looking for. Borgen has fit in quickly, bringing a calmer, more reliable edge to a blue line that has had to absorb the absence of Charlie McAvoy while trying to keep the team organized in its own zone.
Through his first stretch in Boston, Borgen has stood out for the way he has handled his minutes and simplified things for the rest of the defense corps. Marco Sturm has liked what he has seen from the newcomer, and the early returns suggest the Bruins may have found a useful piece for a group that badly needed one. [Read more 🡒]
James Hagens Is Giving Bruins Fans A Reason To Dream Early
James Hagens has given the Bruins an early jolt of optimism in his first stretch of the 2026-27 season. The 19-year-old forward, taken seventh overall in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, has settled into a third-line role alongside Casey Mittlestadt and Elias Lindholm, and he has already shown enough poise to look comfortable in NHL minutes. Through 12 games, he has supplied a steady mix of offense and quick decision-making that has fit neatly into Bostons lineup.
David Pastrnak has noticed the way Hagens plays around the crease, where patience and touch can matter just as much as speed. For a young player still carving out his place, the encouraging part is not only the production but the way he is finding important moments without forcing the issue. The Bruins have plenty of season left to sort out, but Hagens is already giving the fan base a reason to think the future might arrive sooner than expected. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Suddenly Have New Roster Momentum Heading Into Tough Trip
The Bruins returned to practice with a little more stability around the roster just as the schedule starts to get tougher. Boston heads out on a two-game road trip carrying a three-point lead in the Atlantic Division, and the timing of the latest developments could hardly be better for a team trying to keep its footing in a crowded race.
Marat Khusnutdinov is now locked in for the long haul after signing a three-year contract extension, giving the Bruins one less item to worry about as they move deeper into the season. The last game also offered a boost in net, where Michael DiPietro picked up his first NHL shutout, the kind of performance that can quiet a few questions and give a club some extra confidence before heading on the road. [Read more 🡒]