The Bruins are carrying real momentum into the week of Oct. 19-25, 2026, and it’s showing up in a few different ways. The record is strong, the power play has been sharp, and the lineup has gotten meaningful production from both the usual suspects and some newer faces. Still, there are a few issues Boston has to keep sorting through, starting with Pavel Zacha’s upper-body injury.
Through nine games, the Bruins are 7-2-0 and sitting on 14 points, which has them in first place in the Atlantic Division. That’s a nice bounce back after back-to-back losses to the Minnesota Wild and Ottawa Senators earlier in October. Since then, Boston has stacked up wins over the Utah Mammoth, Philadelphia Flyers, San Jose Sharks, Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings.
That latest victory came Saturday, a 4-1 win over the Kings that wrapped up a successful California swing. Before that, Boston had knocked off Anaheim 4-2 in a game that told a pretty clear story: this team can dig itself out when it has to. The Bruins fell behind by two goals early, then leaned on improved special teams and a stronger response once the game got uncomfortable.
That kind of comeback is useful, but it also points to the area Boston still needs to clean up. The Bruins have shown they can rally, yet they’d be much better off if they weren’t forced to spend so much time chasing. Stronger starts would make life a lot easier.
David Pastrnak remains central to everything Boston does offensively. Against Anaheim, he scored and added an assist on another goal, and that moved him into fourth place on the franchise’s all-time goals list. Elias Lindholm also came through in that game, scoring the third-period winner after the Bruins dug themselves into an early hole.
What’s been especially encouraging for Boston is that the offense hasn’t rested entirely on Pastrnak’s shoulders. Fraser Minten scored twice against San Jose, and rookie defenseman Frederic Brunet picked up his first NHL goal against Anaheim. Those are the kinds of contributions that give Marco Sturm more ways to build a lineup and keep opposing defenses from keying in on one line every night.
Charlie McAvoy’s return was another big development. He made his season debut against San Jose after serving a six-game suspension related to last season’s playoffs, and he marked the occasion with a goal in Boston’s 6-3 win. His presence changes the look of the blue line right away.
McAvoy matters for more than what he does on the scoresheet. He gives Boston a defenseman who can move the puck, handle tough matchups, and help drive the transition game. If the Bruins are going to keep this offensive rhythm going, they’ll need that part of his game as much as anything else.
The injury situation is worth watching, too. Zacha missed the game against Los Angeles with an upper-body injury and was listed as day-to-day in the pregame report, with no confirmed return date available in the updates. That creates a little more strain on the forward group, especially because Zacha gives Boston flexibility down the middle and in different offensive situations.
Special teams have already delivered a lift. Against Anaheim, the Bruins scored three times on four power-play chances, which helped turn a bad start into a comeback win. That kind of efficiency can flip a game in a hurry, especially against opponents strong enough to trade chances at five-on-five.
The real question is whether that power play keeps producing once other teams adjust to it. Boston will need movement, quick puck movement and bodies around the net. Skill helps, but the unit can’t lean on skill alone forever.
There’s also some good news in goal. Jeremy Swayman made 25 saves against Los Angeles, and Michael DiPietro picked up his first NHL win against Anaheim. That gives Sturm two goalies who’ve already delivered positive results this season.
Boston’s schedule is lighter than a long road swing, but this is still a meaningful week. The Bruins have two games coming: a road matchup against Dallas, then a return to TD Garden to face the Nashville Predators.
The Dallas game closes out Boston’s four-game western trip, so it’s a chance to finish that stretch on the right foot. After that, Nashville comes in on Thursday, and the Bruins will need to show they can carry their edge back home.
For now, the big picture looks good. Pastrnak is producing, McAvoy is back, younger players are pitching in, and the power play has already swung a game.
The next step is making all of that hold up night after night. Boston has built the foundation.
Now it has to keep stacking on top of it.
In Other News...
Bruins Waste Big Opportunity In Loss That Leaves One Clear Concern
The Bruins left Dallas with a point but not the result they wanted, falling 3-2 in overtime at American Airlines Center in a game that felt like a missed chance for a team sitting atop the Atlantic Division and tied for first in the Eastern Conference. Boston had enough strong stretches to make the trip feel winnable, with Jeremy Swayman, Matthew Poitras and Nikita Zadorov among the players who helped keep the game on track.
Still, the details of how the loss unfolded will linger. Boston could not cash in on a key advantage when it needed to separate itself, and by the time overtime arrived, the margin for error had already disappeared. Against a Dallas team led by Mikko Rantanens big night, the Bruins were left with a reminder that even a solid overall performance can turn into an expensive lesson when one area of the game goes missing at the wrong time. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Gave Fans One More Reason To Watch Khusnutdinov Closely
The Bruins wrapped up a four-game road trip at 3-0-1, a solid stretch that still ended with a 3-2 overtime loss to the Stars in Dallas. Boston had enough going in the right direction to leave the trip with positives, even if Mikko Rantanens hat trick ultimately swung the night for the home team.
Amid that backdrop, theres a reason to keep a closer eye on Marat Khusnutdinov, who has become part of the conversation around Bostons roster beyond just the immediate results on the ice. The Bruins are also being linked to a possible move involving Dylan Larkins trade landscape, while a few other familiar names around the league have recently found themselves back where they started, adding to a busy stretch of NHL storylines. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Suddenly Have A Real Chance In A Surprising Trade Watch
A quiet contract standoff in Detroit has suddenly put the Bruins in the middle of an interesting trade watch. Simon Edvinsson and his agent recently met with interim GM Shawn Horcoff as the Red Wings continue to work toward an extension, and Boston is among the teams keeping tabs on the situation as the 6-foot-6 defensemans future hangs in the balance.
Edvinsson has not formally asked out, but the longer talks drag on, the more likely a move starts to look if no deal comes together. Detroit still says it wants to keep him, yet there is clearly enough outside interest to make this one worth monitoring, with the Bruins one of the clubs that could benefit if the Red Wings decide to revisit the market. [Read more 🡒]