The Boston Bruins keep finding ways to stay in the fight, but the same issues keep showing up in the margins. After losses to Carolina and St. Louis, they came home for a Halloween night rescue against Chicago, where Morgan Geekie tied it and Elias Lindholm finished it in overtime.
That comeback fit the personality of this team so far. The Bruins have shown they can dig in and claw back, but leaning on late-game heroics is a risky way to live. As was said on the pod, “There’s pretty much a no quit factor in this team.”
The encouraging signs are real. Boston’s young players continue to bring energy and bite, the goaltending has been excellent, and David Pastrňák moved past Patrice Bergeron for sole possession of third place on the Bruins’ all-time goal-scoring list. Phil Esposito is next.
Still, the warning lights are flashing in a few familiar places. The starts have been slow.
The veteran production has come and gone. The power play remains a problem.
And the details are beginning to unravel in ways that can’t be ignored.
Against Chicago, the Bruins again had to rally from behind, which has become too familiar after the two straight losses to Carolina and St. Louis. They got the result they needed, but the path there was messy.
A big part of the story has been the younger group. James Hagens and Casey Mittelstadt continue to show real chemistry, and that connection has become one of the most promising parts of Boston’s early season. The younger forwards are bringing a different kind of life to the lineup - more pace, more creativity, and more willingness to shoot.
Lindholm’s role is also becoming clearer. He’s fitting in well with Hagens and Mittelstadt, and his overtime winner against Chicago only strengthened the sense that he’s becoming an important piece for this group, both on the ice and in the room.
The veterans, though, need to give more from the opening faceoff. Pastrňák, Pavel Zacha, and Geekie can’t keep waiting until the final stretch to make their mark. Boston needs its established scorers to set the tone earlier in games, not just rescue them late.
There are also some slippage points that are hard to miss. The Bruins are having trouble with zone entries, turning pucks over, and leaving too many defensive cracks open.
On top of that, the top power-play unit is still not getting the job done. “It’s very easy to fall into bad habits and harder to break them.”
The goaltending has been a major reason Boston has stayed afloat. Jeremy Swayman kept the Carolina game close, and Michael DiPietro was outstanding against Chicago with 41 saves, including a crucial stop in overtime.
Geekie’s tying goal stood out as a possible turning point for him after an early-season scoring slump. Lindholm earned his own spotlight with the winner and his steady two-way play. And the Hagens-Mittelstadt connection continues to be one of the clearest bright spots on the roster.
One player who landed in the penalty box, at least figuratively, was Nikita Zadorov. His instinct to stand up for teammates matters, but another misconduct penalty left Boston short a defenseman at a key moment against Chicago.
The Bruins now head into another difficult stretch with games against the Vegas Golden Knights, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Florida Panthers. Vegas brings Jack Eichel and a dangerous offense.
Pittsburgh still has Sidney Crosby. Florida offers another divisional test.
There is a more manageable November schedule coming, along with some practice time for Marco Sturm to clean up the little things. Boston has already shown it has the talent, chemistry, goaltending, and resolve to compete. What it needs now is a more complete version of itself.
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 🡒]