If the Bruins want to make a real push as contenders this season, they’ll need to figure out how to bring their home-ice dominance on the road. Because at TD Garden? They’re a force.
Boston closed out January with a perfect 9-0-0 home record, capping it off with a 6-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night. That victory bumped their overall home mark to an impressive 21-8-1 - and it was their last game on Causeway Street until February 26.
Fraser Minten and Casey Mittelstadt led the charge offensively, each notching three-point nights (1 goal, 2 assists), while Jeremy Swayman turned aside 33 shots to help the Bruins stay perfect at home this month.
The only dark cloud on an otherwise bright night was the loss of Pavel Zacha, who exited the game with an upper-body injury late in the second period. There’s no official word yet on the severity, but losing Zacha for any stretch would be a tough blow, especially with Elias Lindholm already sidelined.
Up next, the Bruins hit the road for two tough pre-Olympic matchups - starting with a Stadium Series showdown against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday, followed by a visit to the red-hot, defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers next Wednesday.
Quick Strike, Quick Control
The Bruins wasted little time setting the tone. Midway through the first period, they struck twice in a 41-second span to grab a 2-0 lead.
The first came from a newly formed second line, with Minten stepping in for Zacha between Viktor Arvidsson and Mittelstadt - a trio that’s quickly finding chemistry. Arvidsson ripped home his 13th of the season at 9:49, finishing a slick feed from Mittelstadt with a one-timer that snuck under Flyers goalie Samuel Ersson.
On the very next shift, Zacha made his mark before his injury. He ended a seven-game goal drought by taking a quick dish from Morgan Geekie and roofing it over Ersson for his 15th of the year.
Philadelphia looked like they had cut the lead in half shortly after when Christian Dvorak pounced on a turnover and set up Nikita Grebenkin for a clean look. Swayman made the initial stop, but Dvorak buried the rebound.
However, Bruins head coach Marco Sturm challenged the play for goalie interference - and won. Grebenkin’s stick had wedged between Swayman’s arm and body, impeding the save.
No goal.
Trading Blows in the Second
Boston extended the lead to 3-0 early in the second when Minten scored his 14th of the season. The rookie took advantage of another soft goal from Ersson, sneaking a wrister through the pads off the rush.
But the Flyers responded quickly. A turnover in the defensive zone gave Travis Konecny a wide-open look in the slot, and he didn’t waste it - beating Swayman glove-side to make it 3-1.
The pace picked up from there, with both teams trading chances in a stretch of nearly whistle-free hockey. Philly started to tilt the ice a bit, but Swayman held firm, and the Bruins’ second line went back to work.
After sustained pressure, Mittelstadt cleaned up a rebound from an Andrew Peeke chance, lifting a backhander top-shelf for his 11th goal of the season and a 4-1 lead. Just over two minutes later, Tanner Jeannot made it 5-1 by getting a piece of a Peeke slapshot - a net-front deflection that left Ersson little chance.
But again, the Bruins gave one back before the period ended. A missed shot by Nikita Zadorov rimmed all the way out of the zone, springing Konecny for a breakaway. Swayman made the stop, but Grebenkin followed up and buried the rebound with 55 seconds left in the frame, cutting the lead to 5-2.
Closing It Out
Boston kept things under control in the third, limiting Philadelphia’s chances and managing the puck well. Marat Khusnutdinov added an empty-net goal with 3:30 left to seal it at 6-2. Matvei Michkov tacked on a late power-play tally for the Flyers, but by then, the outcome was well in hand.
What It Means
This was a statement win - not just in the scoreline, but in the way the Bruins’ depth showed up. With Lindholm out and Zacha leaving midway through, players like Minten, Mittelstadt, and Arvidsson stepped up in a big way. Swayman was steady, the second line was dynamic, and the Bruins played with the kind of offensive rhythm that makes them so tough to beat at home.
Now comes the real test: Can they carry this momentum into two high-stakes road games before the Olympic break? If Boston wants to be more than just a regular-season powerhouse, they’ll need to prove they can win big games outside the Garden.
But for now, they’ll leave Causeway Street with a perfect January and plenty of confidence.