The Bruins found a way to steal two points at TD Garden, but the path there was messy, frustrating and just plain weird.
Boston erased a pair of Chicago leads, got a game-tying goal from Morgan Geekie with 12 seconds left in regulation, and then finished the job when Elias Lindholm scored in overtime for a 5-4 win over the Blackhawks. That pushed the Bruins to 10-4-1 after back-to-back road losses to the Carolina Hurricanes and the St. Louis Blues.
For long stretches, though, it looked like Boston was headed for another rough night against a team that came in at 4-9-0. Instead, the Bruins leaned on late execution, a few veteran plays and some timely saves from Michael DiPietro to turn what should have been a loss into a comeback win.
The finish belonged to the veterans
DiPietro kept Boston alive when the game was slipping away, and the Bruins finally gave him support after Connor Bedard put Chicago ahead 4-2. Mason Lohrei trimmed it to 4-3, and then Geekie delivered the equalizer with 12 seconds left, burying a slap shot to make it 4-4.
Lindholm finished it off in overtime after taking a stretch pass off the boards from Charlie McAvoy at the offensive blue line, breaking in and scoring with a clean move. Boston had no business getting two points out of that one, but the late response from its experienced players changed everything.
The Bruins kept passing up shots
One of the strangest parts of Boston’s recent stretch has been how often the team turns down good looks. That showed up again against Chicago.
Early in the game, the Bruins had a 3-on-1, but Casey Mittelsadt chose to drop the puck back to James Hagens, and the chance fizzled once the Chicago defender got back into the play. Later, another good shooting lane in the slot ended with a pass to David Pastrnak, who was not ready and missed the net from a tough angle.
That kind of decision-making has become a theme. Boston had only 13 shots through 40 minutes against the Blackhawks, and the reluctance to shoot kept helping Chicago stay in the game.
Penalties kept undercutting Boston
The Bruins also made life harder on themselves by taking penalties at the wrong times.
Chicago’s power play entered the night as the league’s worst and had not scored on the road, but the Blackhawks still cashed in for a 1-0 lead after Will Borgen took a delay-of-game penalty when his clearing attempt ended up behind the penalty box. Boston had also started to tilt the ice late in the second period before Fraser Minten was whistled for holding right after Mittelsadt tied the game 2-2, wiping out some of that momentum.
The Bruins have talked about staying out of the box, but the habit keeps showing up. And on a night when they were already fighting their own shot selection, those penalties made the climb even steeper.
In Other News...
Bruins Suddenly Look Like A Real Threat In The Kucherov Race
If Nikita Kucherov ever reaches free agency, the Bruins would have to be taken seriously as a destination. The appeal is obvious: Boston can sell a chance to win right away, and the fit on paper is just as intriguing. Insiders have already pointed to how his game could slot into the lineup and give the power play another layer of danger, which is exactly the kind of pitch a contender would want ready if the market opens up.
What makes the conversation even more interesting is the way Kucherovs next move is being framed around more than money or geography. He is said to want a situation with a real Cup path and the chance to skate with another elite player, which narrows the field and raises the stakes for teams like Boston. If the Bruins can keep themselves in that tier, they suddenly become more than a speculative name in the mix. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins New Alternate Sweater Brings Boston Pride And A Fan Debate
The Bruins have added a new look to their wardrobe, unveiling an alternate jersey called the Varsity Sweater as part of the NHL and Fanatics Hometown Remix series. The brown design leans into Bostons deep college hockey roots, with historical touches that make it feel tied to the city rather than just to the team, including a front number and the red-brick Freedom Trail worked into the hemline.
Boston will wear the sweater 12 times this season, giving fans plenty of chances to weigh in on a jersey that is already likely to spark debate. The first appearance comes Nov. 12 against the Canadiens, when the Bruins will also stage a Homecoming event, adding another layer of local flavor to a night that should feel as much about Boston identity as it does about the game itself. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Head Into A Key Test With Zadorov Drama Still Lingering
The Bruins are closing out a two-game homestand with a stiff test against Vegas, and the backdrop is still shaped by the leagues latest discipline on Nikita Zadorov. Bostons blue line has been under the microscope all week, and the timing is not ideal with a contender coming into TD Garden to finish off the set.
Zadorovs fine for roughing has added another layer of attention to a team that is trying to keep its focus on the ice rather than the noise around it. Around the league, there was also movement elsewhere with Shane Wright heading to Nashville in a one-for-one deal for Matthew Wood, while New Jersey sent goaltender Remi Poirier to Washington, but for the Bruins the immediate concern is whether the lingering Zadorov situation stays in the background long enough for the hockey to take center stage. [Read more 🡒]