The Boston Bruins found a way to turn Halloween into a comeback night.
Down late and staring at another loss, the Bruins rallied to beat the Chicago Blackhawks 5-4 in overtime at TD Garden, snapping a two-game losing streak and moving to 10-4-1. Elias Lindholm finished it in overtime, while David Pastrnak, Casey Mittelstadt, Mason Lohrei and Morgan Geekie also scored. Michael DiPietro stopped 38 shots for his third win of the season.
Chicago struck first after Will Borgen was called for delay of game at 5:53, and the Blackhawks made the Bruins pay almost immediately. Patrick Kane set up Anton Frondell just 11 seconds into the power play, giving Chicago the early edge.
Boston answered with a highlight pass and a finish that changed the tone. From deep in his own zone, Pavel Zacha sent a long backhand feed to Pastrnak, who broke in alone and lifted one high past Arvid Soderblom to tie it seven minutes later. That goal was Pastrnak’s 428th career goal, moving him into sole possession of third place on the Bruins’ all-time goals list.
The Blackhawks grabbed the lead back early in the second when Tyler Bertuzzi sent a shot toward the net and Frondell redirected it past DiPietro. Boston had chances to respond before that, but the puck kept finding iron. Morgan Geekie, Mark Kastelic and Marat Khusnutdinov all hit the post in the first 25 minutes, one of those nights when nothing seemed to want to go in.
The Bruins were also chasing the game on the shot clock. Chicago was ahead 25-9 halfway through, and Boston’s pace looked off. Then Casey Mittelstadt finally broke through on the Bruins’ 10th shot of the game, taking a feed from James Hagens and scoring from just outside the left circle to make it 2-2.
That goal came after a rough sequence involving Mittelstadt and Alex Vlasic. Mittelstadt laid a hit on Vlasic in the offensive zone, Vlasic responded with a cross-check, then chased him down and wrestled him to the ice near the d-zone blue line.
A 10-man scrum followed, with Nikita Zadorov jumping in and landing a few punches on Vlasic. Zadorov was given a four-minute double minor and a 10-minute misconduct, while Vlasic received four minutes for roughing.
Chicago regained control in the third. With matching penalties to Tanner Jeannot for embellishment and Connor Bedard for holding ending, Ryan Greene jumped into a 3-on-1, chose to shoot, and beat DiPietro blocker side for a 3-2 lead. Less than three minutes later, Bedard added another on a breakaway, pulling the puck to his backhand and beating DiPietro blocker side again.
Boston still wasn’t done. Just 46 seconds after Bedard’s goal, JJ Peterka found Mason Lohrei to the left of the net, and the 6-foot-5 defenseman buried his third goal of the season to cut it to 4-3.
With 80 seconds left, the Bruins pulled DiPietro. The move paid off. Morgan Geekie tied it with 10.2 seconds remaining, sending the game to overtime and giving Boston the opening it needed to finish the comeback.
Lindholm delivered the winner in overtime to seal it.
The Bruins will close out their two-game homestand Monday night against the Vegas Golden Knights, who come in at 9-5-1.
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 🡒]