The Bruins are heating up at just the right time.
With a 9-2 record in January, Boston has clawed its way back into the playoff picture, currently sitting in the second wild card spot-just a point behind the Canadiens. And fittingly, it was Montreal they took down Saturday night with a clinical display of special teams dominance, cashing in three times on the power play.
That win capped off a week that began on a sour note-a lopsided loss to Dallas-but ended with a pair of gritty, confidence-boosting victories over the Canadiens and Golden Knights. Head coach Marco Sturm likes what he’s seeing, and it’s not just about the results. It’s about the adaptability.
“We can play against any team,” Sturm said postgame. “After Dallas, everyone was disappointed.
Then we beat a team like Vegas, and tonight we had to go against a team with a totally different style-fast, skilled, high-end skating. That gives me confidence that we can play different styles, too.”
That versatility is going to matter down the stretch. Boston’s headed to Madison Square Garden next, looking to reach NHL .500 on the road. And with a snowstorm bearing down, the team wasted no time flying out Saturday night to stay on schedule.
Let’s dig into a few key storylines as the Bruins continue their push.
Fraser Minten Is Starting to Show Why the Bruins Took the Gamble
When Boston shipped out Brandon Carlo, there were plenty of raised eyebrows. Right-shot defensemen who can log big minutes, kill penalties, and bring physicality don’t grow on trees. And while the Bruins are still looking to shore up the right side-Rasmus Andersson remains a target-the early returns on the deal are looking pretty strong.
Fraser Minten, the centerpiece of that trade, is proving he belongs. He may not jump off the screen with any one elite skill, but he’s got that hard-to-define "it" factor. The kind of hockey IQ that puts him in the right place before the puck gets there.
He’s now up to 13 goals on the season, with his latest coming in clutch fashion-a late third-period equalizer that showcased both his awareness and composure.
“His hockey sense is elite, especially for a young kid,” Sturm said. “You can’t teach that.
He just has that instinct. He’s smart, a two-way player.
Sometimes that holds him back offensively, but I’m okay with that. He’s only 21.
We’ve got time, and he’s doing the right things.”
Inevitably, any young, defensively responsible center in Boston is going to draw comparisons to Patrice Bergeron. That’s a high bar, and Minten’s not there yet-especially offensively.
Bergeron, at 20, was already putting up 70-point seasons. But even Bergeron didn’t have his signature bumper shot early on.
And David Pastrnak didn’t enter the league with the one-timer that’s become his trademark.
If Minten can develop a go-to offensive weapon to complement his defensive instincts, he’s got the potential to be a major piece for this franchise.
Rangers Await, and They’ve Got Something to Prove
Next up: the New York Rangers, who are in a bit of a spiral. They’ve dropped three straight, are 2-7-1 in their last 10, and have all but admitted they’re hitting reset mode with what’s being dubbed “The Letter 2.0.”
But if there’s one game they’ll get up for, it’s this one.
The Bruins embarrassed the Blueshirts at TD Garden back on January 10, putting up a 10-spot in a 10-2 blowout. That kind of loss lingers. And with MSG’s home-ice advantage dulled by a snowstorm that could keep fans away, the Rangers will be looking to bring their own energy.
Don’t be surprised if Sam Carrick looks to settle the score with Mark Kastelic, who landed a knockout punch in their last tilt. There’s pride on the line here, even if the standings don’t show it.
Zadorov’s Status Uncertain After Scary Moment
Nikita Zadorov gave Bruins fans a scare Saturday night. Midway through the second period, the big defenseman was checked into the boards by Montreal’s Zach Bolduc and came down awkwardly.
His right skate blade stuck in the ice while his 255-pound frame twisted above it-never a good combination. He needed help getting off the ice.
Somehow, he returned in the third period. But it was clear he wasn’t 100%.
He was moving gingerly, likely running on pure adrenaline. He didn’t practice Sunday at MSG and will be re-evaluated Monday.
“He’s a big man, so that’s a lot of weight on two legs,” Sturm said. “We’ll see how Monday goes.
We feel confident. We’re actually really healthy.
We still have [Henri Jokiharju] ready to go. He’ll be a game-time decision.”
Zadorov has been a stabilizing force this season, sitting at a plus-16 and showing the kind of consistency that eluded him last year. With five games left before the three-week Olympic break, it might make sense to let him rest and recover, especially with Jokiharju available and Jordan Harris working his way back from injury in Providence.
The Bruins will need all the blue-line depth they can get. March is going to be a grind-16 games in 29 days, including four sets of back-to-backs.
Penalty Kill Becoming a Problem
For all the good happening in Boston right now, the penalty kill is trending in the wrong direction.
They’ve allowed seven power-play goals over their last five games and have slipped to 24th in the NHL with a 77.4% success rate. That’s a concern.
The Bruins have been getting it done offensively-they’re ninth in goals per game (3.31) and third on the power play (26.6%). But special teams are a two-way street, and the PK is looking more like a liability than an asset.
It wasn’t long ago that the Bruins’ penalty kill was one of their calling cards. If they want to stay in the playoff mix and make noise once they get there, they’ll need to tighten that up.
Final Word
The Bruins are showing signs of a team finding its identity-and doing it in a way that travels. They’ve proven they can win fast, win physical, and win ugly.
That kind of versatility matters in the postseason. But there are still areas to clean up, especially on special teams and the injury front.
With a critical stretch ahead and the Olympic break looming, Boston’s challenge is clear: stay healthy, stay sharp, and keep stacking points. Because in a season this tight, every night matters.