The Atlantic Division is an absolute dogfight this season - and the Boston Bruins are right in the thick of it. Every team in the division is above .500, and the gap between second and fifth place?
Just three points. That’s the kind of razor-thin margin where every shift, every special teams battle, and every point matters.
With the NHL on pause for the 2026 Olympic Games in Italy, the Bruins are staring down a critical stretch run. If they want to prove this isn’t just a transitional year, but one where they can make real postseason noise, they’ll need to hit the ground skating when the league resumes.
This season has been a tale of two Bruins teams. At times, they’ve looked like world-beaters - resilient, structured, and hard to play against.
Other times, the cracks have shown, and the inconsistency has been tough to ignore. If Boston wants to stay in the playoff picture in the NHL’s most competitive division, they’ll need to double down on what works and tighten up the areas that have cost them.
Here are three keys that could define the Bruins’ push toward the postseason.
1. Swayman and Korpisalo Need to Lock It In
Goaltending has the power to mask a lot of flaws - and when the Bruins are humming, it’s often because Jeremy Swayman or Joonas Korpisalo is stealing the show. But so far this season, while both netminders have had their moments, neither has consistently delivered at the level Boston needs.
Let’s start with Swayman. He’s the franchise guy, and the $8.25 million price tag reflects that.
On the surface, his 2.89 goals-against average and .903 save percentage might raise some eyebrows. But dig a little deeper, and the advanced numbers tell a more encouraging story.
His 7.3 goals saved above average (GSAA) and 16.2 goals saved above expected show that he’s been better than the box score suggests. The Bruins need that version of Swayman - the one who can tilt the ice and give them a chance to win even when the rest of the team isn’t at its best.
Korpisalo, meanwhile, has had a rockier go. The veteran backup carries a 3.15 GAA and a .893 save percentage into the Olympic break, with negative marks in both GSAA (-1.9) and goals saved above expected (-1.5).
There have been flashes, but consistency has been elusive. If Boston wants to keep Swayman fresh for a potential playoff run, they’ll need Korpisalo to be more than a placeholder - they’ll need him to be reliable.
With the playoff race this tight, the margin for error is slim. Strong goaltending could be the difference between a wild card spot and watching from home in April.
2. Depth Scoring and Defensive Stability Are Non-Negotiable
One of the Bruins’ biggest strengths this season has been their ability to get contributions up and down the lineup. Eight players have already hit double digits in goals, and two more are sitting at nine. That kind of balance is crucial, especially in a season where injuries have forced the team to lean on depth more than usual.
What’s been impressive is how the Bruins have embraced a “next man up” mentality. Whether it’s young players like Fraser Minten and Marat Khusnutdinov, or veterans like Viktor Arvidsson stepping into new roles, Boston has gotten meaningful minutes from just about everyone. Casey Mittelstadt and Alex Steeves have also shown they can contribute regardless of where they slot in the lineup - top six or bottom six, it hasn’t mattered.
Defensively, it’s been a bit more chaotic. Injuries have forced the Bruins to use 11 different defensemen so far, and that revolving door has made it tough to establish chemistry on the back end.
Ideally, they’d like to lock in a consistent top six and have a couple of trusted options in reserve. But given the circumstances, the fact that they’ve stayed competitive is a testament to the system and the players stepping in.
Still, as the games get tighter and the stakes get higher, stability on the blue line becomes even more important. The Bruins don’t need perfection - they just need dependable pairings that can handle tough minutes and support their goaltenders.
3. Special Teams: Power Play Clicking, Penalty Kill Needs Work
Special teams often decide close games, and in the Atlantic, there are going to be a lot of close games down the stretch. The Bruins’ power play has been a bright spot - one of the best in the league, in fact.
They’re converting at a 26.3% clip, which ranks third overall in the NHL and first in both the Eastern Conference and the Atlantic Division. That’s elite territory, and it’s a major reason they’ve been able to stay afloat in such a crowded playoff picture.
The Bruins have done a great job capitalizing on their chances with the man advantage, and that trend needs to continue. But the other side of the special teams battle has been a problem.
Boston’s penalty kill has struggled all season. They rank 28th in the league, killing off just 76.3% of their penalties.
That’s a tough number to stomach, especially when the team is taking more penalties than it should. In a division loaded with power play threats, that’s a recipe for trouble.
If the Bruins want to make a serious push, they need to clean this up. That means smarter discipline and better execution when down a man. The power play is doing its job - now the PK needs to catch up.
The Road Ahead
The Bruins don’t have much room for error coming out of the Olympic break. The Atlantic Division is a gauntlet, and every point is going to matter. But this isn’t a team that needs a miracle - they just need consistency.
If Swayman can play like a top-tier starter, if the depth continues to deliver, and if the penalty kill can find its footing, Boston has every reason to believe they can be more than just a playoff team - they can be a threat.
The second half is going to be a grind. But for the Bruins, the path is clear. Now it’s about execution.