Bruins Honor Chara, Then Handle Business on the Ice
Thursday night at TD Garden was all about No. 33 - and rightfully so. Zdeno Chara, the towering former captain who helped bring a Stanley Cup back to Boston, had his number raised to the rafters in a celebration that was equal parts emotional and electric. And in true Bruins fashion, the night didn’t just end with the ceremony - they capped it off with a 4-2 win over the Seattle Kraken.
Let’s start with the main event. Chara’s number retirement was a long time coming, and the Bruins made sure it was done right.
His family joined him at center ice, and the Garden crowd got to relive some of the franchise’s best moments - many of which had Chara front and center. Former teammates like Andrew Ference (who handled emcee duties), Tim Thomas, and David Krejci were all on hand, adding to the nostalgia.
Even Jack Edwards made an appearance, bringing his signature energy to the proceedings.
And yes, Chara’s banner now hangs beside another iconic No. 33 - Larry Bird’s - cementing the big defenseman’s place in Boston sports royalty.
But once the banners were raised and the cheers died down, it was back to business on the ice. The Bruins wasted no time jumping on Seattle, building a quick 2-0 lead before the Kraken cut the deficit in half.
Then, in a moment that felt almost scripted, Mark Kastelic buried a shorthanded goal while Patrice Bergeron - another future banner candidate - was calling the action from the NESN broadcast booth. That goal stood as the game-winner.
Marat Khusnutdinov and Viktor Arvidsson each found the back of the net, and David Pastrnak sealed the deal with an empty-netter. Jeremy Swayman was solid between the pipes, turning away 26 shots to help Boston lock down the win.
One blemish on the night: defenseman Andrew Peeke exited with a lower-body injury and didn’t return. The team will likely provide an update soon, but it’s a development worth keeping an eye on.
While the Bruins did allow four Seattle power plays - two of which turned into goals - they’ve mostly been trending in the right direction when it comes to discipline. That’ll be something to monitor moving forward, but it’s not reason to sound the alarm just yet.
The bigger picture? Boston just wrapped up a perfect 5-0-0 homestand, allowing only five goals across those five games.
That’s the kind of defensive buy-in and goaltending consistency that can carry a team through the grind of the season. It’s also the kind of stretch that builds confidence heading into the road.
Next up: a trip to Chicago, where the B’s will face off with the Blackhawks on Saturday night. But for now, the Garden faithful can savor a special night - a fitting tribute to one of the game’s greats, followed by another hard-earned win.