The Bruins open their four-game road trip Tuesday night in San Jose, and the game brings more than just a chance to stretch a winning run to three. With the Sharks trying to shake off a 3-1 loss to the Oilers, there are a handful of milestones and one major return worth tracking at SAP Center.
Charlie McAvoy is set to make his season debut for Boston after sitting out a six-game suspension for his slash on Sabres forward Zach Benson in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in May. That penalty came with less than two minutes left in regulation, and McAvoy received both a major penalty and a game misconduct.
Buffalo won that game 4-1, moved on to the second round, and sent the Bruins home for the offseason. The NHL announced the suspension on May 12 and said McAvoy would not be paid during the stretch.
“Absolutely,” said Bruins head coach Marco Sturm on being excited to get McAvoy back. “I think we’ve done a really good job without him, but we also know we're better with him.
So, it's nice to have him back. He's been very excited.
He's been looking forward to it for a long time and yeah, it's going to be great.”
Boston also enters the night with David Pastrnak on the doorstep of another franchise mark. He started the 2026-27 season three goals behind Brad Marchand for fourth place on the Bruins’ all-time goals list at 422, and he tied Marchand on Thursday against the Utah Mammoth with a two-goal night in Boston’s 6-1 win. One more goal would put Pastrnak alone in fourth, and five more would bring him level with Patrice Bergeron for third.
There’s more milestone watch beyond Pastrnak. Casey Mittelstadt is two goals from 100 in his career and has scored in Boston’s last two games, against the Mammoth and Flyers.
Elias Lindholm needs one point to reach 100 as a Bruin, and Jeremy Swayman is one win away from moving into sole possession of eighth place in franchise history. He is currently tied with Andy Moog at 136 wins.
San Jose has a milestone possibility of its own. Mason Marchment is four goals away from 100 career goals.
The Bruins and Sharks are set for an 11 p.m. ET puck drop on NESN and ESPN.
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