Saturday Skate: Bruins Ride Momentum Into Chicago, Trade Rumors Swirl Around Andersson
It’s gameday for the Boston Bruins, and they’re heading into the weekend with some serious momentum. After sweeping all five games on their recent homestand, the Bruins are back on the road for a two-game swing through the Central Division, starting tonight in Chicago against the Blackhawks.
Boston’s five-game win streak hasn’t just been about results-it’s been about how they’ve played. They’ve tightened up defensively, gotten timely scoring, and leaned on solid goaltending. That combination has them in a strong position as they look to keep stacking points in the standings.
The last time these two teams met was back on October 9, Boston’s home opener, when the Bruins edged out a 4-3 win in overtime thanks to a clutch finish from Fraser Minten. Tonight, they’ll be looking for a repeat performance, this time at the United Center.
Trade Winds Blowing: Rasmus Andersson on Boston’s Radar
While the Bruins are focused on the task at hand in Chicago, there’s another storyline gaining traction off the ice-Boston’s reported interest in Calgary defenseman Rasmus Andersson. According to TSN’s Darren Dreger, the Bruins are one of four teams still in the mix for the 27-year-old blueliner, who’s due for a new contract at season’s end.
Andersson brings a blend of puck-moving skill and defensive reliability, the kind of presence that could solidify Boston’s back end for a playoff push. With Detroit reportedly falling out of the chase, the Bruins remain firmly in the conversation. Whether Andersson suits up for Calgary’s game today at 3:00 PM ET could offer another clue about how close a deal might be.
Also of note: Bruins prospect Matt Poitras has made a change off the ice, switching agents-something to keep an eye on as his development continues.
Around the NHL: Rangers Retool, Panthers Routed, Avalanche Stumble at Home
New York Rangers: The Rangers made waves with a statement to their fans, clarifying that they’re entering a “retool”-not a rebuild. It’s a subtle but important distinction, especially as trade chatter around the team picks up.
One of the biggest names drawing attention is Artemi Panarin. According to reports, the Rangers won’t be offering the 34-year-old forward a contract extension, which has only fueled speculation that he could be on the move before the deadline.
Dallas Stars: Jason Robertson’s name has surfaced in trade discussions, giving Dallas a big decision to weigh. He’s a dynamic offensive talent, but the Stars are in a position where they’ll need to consider both present needs and long-term implications.
Columbus Blue Jackets: In a move that caught many off guard, Columbus fired their head coach earlier this week and brought in Rick Bowness to take over. The reaction from the outgoing coach made it clear he didn’t see it coming. The Blue Jackets currently sit 15th in the Eastern Conference-only ahead of the Rangers.
Florida Panthers: Just a day after visiting the White House, the Panthers were handed a brutal 9-1 loss by the Hurricanes in Raleigh. It was a game where everything went wrong-and it could’ve been worse if not for Sergei Bobrovsky. Despite the scoreline, Bobrovsky made several key saves early that kept the game from spiraling even faster.
Colorado Avalanche: The Avalanche’s perfect home record finally came to an end. It took until their 23rd home game of the season, but Colorado fell 7-3 to the Nashville Predators.
Nashville scored five times on 28 shots before tacking on two empty-netters. The Avs are now 2-3-1 in their last six, and their head coach didn’t sugarcoat things after the loss: “There were no positives.
There really weren’t.”
As the Bruins take the ice tonight, they’re not just chasing two points-they’re trying to keep the good vibes rolling while the front office potentially works behind the scenes on a move that could bolster their playoff push. With the trade deadline creeping closer and contenders starting to separate from the pack, every game-and every rumor-carries just a little more weight.