The Boston Bruins are back at TD Garden on Monday to kick off their November slate, and they’ll do it against the Vegas Golden Knights in a 7 p.m. puck drop on Military Appreciation Night.
Boston comes in off a wild one, having rallied past the Chicago Blackhawks 5-4 in overtime on Saturday. Now the Bruins get a heavy dose of home ice to start the month, with nine of their 11 November games set to be played in Boston. That stretch gives them a chance to keep building in front of their own crowd.
“It is huge. We want to be a good home team like last year,” Elias Lindholm said.
“Just have to keep playing, get the wins. We enjoy playing in front of the fans, so it has been good.”
Lindholm has been one of Boston’s most productive players lately, posting five points in his last five games with two goals and three assists. He delivered the overtime winner against Chicago, his fifth goal of the season and his 12th point overall. That puts him second on the Bruins in scoring, behind only David Pastrnak, who has 19.
The 31-year-old is still centering the third line, skating between Casey Mittelstadt and James Hagens. Lindholm said the fit has worked well, especially with Hagens bringing energy to the group.
“It feels good. It is easier to play when you’re healthy,” Lindholm said.
“For me and Casey, we try to be good two-way players and obviously we want James to play his game. It’s been great for us…Keeps me kind of young.
He has a lot of energy and plays the right way. Goes to the hard areas, plays good defensively.
So far, it’s been good.”
Boston is also making a change up front with Matt Poitras returning after sitting out as a healthy scratch last game. The 22-year-old has seven points this season, including four goals and three assists, and he’ll center the fourth line between Tanner Jeannot and Mark Kastelic. Sean Kuraly is coming out of the lineup.
There won’t be any changes on defense.
Head coach Marco Sturm said Poitras’ next step is tightening things up away from the puck.
“Young guys being consistent - the one thing we noticed a little bit is probably the play without the puck,” Sturm said of Poitras. “He has been playing pretty good with the puck, scoring some big goals for us.
Now we just have to focus a little bit in our end. Other than that, he’s been very good this year.”
In Other News...
Bruins May Have A Bigger Opportunity Than Don Sweeney Can Ignore
Bostons retool has put the club in an unusual position for a team that spent the past couple of years reshaping its core: it is not just competitive, it is sitting on top of the Atlantic Division with the best points percentage in the group. The mix looks different now, with younger pieces like Fraser Minten and James Hagens joining established pillars such as David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy, while rookie coach Marco Sturm has helped steer a group that also has real depth in goal with Jeremy Swayman and Michael DiPietro.
All of that gives Don Sweeney something more interesting than a routine deadline calculation. The Bruins already have three first-round picks in upcoming drafts, which means they have the kind of draft capital that can actually open doors if a bigger swing presents itself. The question is whether Boston treats this as a team to keep building patiently, or as one with enough present-day momentum to chase a far more ambitious opportunity if the right one comes into view. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Suddenly Have A Real Shot In The Dylan Larkin Sweepstakes
The Dylan Larkin chatter around the league has put the Bruins in an interesting spot, with Boston among several teams monitoring a situation that still has plenty of moving parts. Trade talks involving the Red Wings captain are ongoing, and the fact that multiple clubs are circling only adds to the intrigue for a Bruins team that would love to find itself in the mix if the door opens.
For now, the process appears to be exactly that - a process - with no deal in place and no clear resolution on where things go next. Montreal, Buffalo and other interested teams are also trying to position themselves, while Larkin and his agent believe a move is possible, which keeps Boston's hopes alive as the situation continues to develop. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Now Face A Matthew Poitras Concern Before Pittsburgh
Matthew Poitras remained a notable concern for the Bruins on the eve of their trip to Pittsburgh after head coach Marco Sturm said the forward stayed out for the entire practice. Poitras has been dealing with the injury he suffered against Vegas, and Boston is at least planning to have him travel with the team as it prepares for the next game.
The Bruins have leaned on Poitras for secondary scoring this season, with the young forward posting seven points in 12 games. His status now adds another layer of uncertainty to a lineup that has already had to adjust on the fly, and the next checkpoint will come after he gets checked out again. [Read more 🡒]