After a 6-3 win on Tuesday night, the Bruins had Wednesday off before heading to Anaheim for the first stop of a back-to-back this weekend. They’re sitting tied with the Senators atop the Atlantic Division through seven games, and Boston’s plus-10 goal differential is tied for fourth in the NHL.
One of the early bright spots has been Fraser Minten. The 22-year-old has seven points, with four goals and three assists, in seven games, but the story goes deeper than the box score.
Charlie McAvoy described his growth as “night and day,” pointing to the bigger role Minten has taken on both on and off the ice. That development has clearly made an impression inside the room.
Boston will practice this afternoon at the Ducks’ practice rink in Irvine, California, with the session set for 3:30 PM ET, 12:30 PM PT. The Bruins are also scheduled for a morning skate at Honda Center before Friday’s 10:00 PM game.
There’s been no shortage of league chatter elsewhere, starting in Detroit, where interim GM Shawn Horcoff made one thing clear: Simon Edvinsson isn’t going anywhere. Horcoff said, “I have zero interest in trading Simon Edvinsson,” and added, “… [A trade] is not something I am entertaining.” That came even as the focus of the presser tilted heavily toward Edvinsson, with Kevin Allen noting that “about 40% of the questions directed to Horcoff were about” him.
In Philadelphia, the noise is already growing around Danny Briere’s phone and Travis Konecny. Pierre LeBrun reported that Briere’s phone has been “getting all kinds of love” around the league, while Anthony Di Marco wrote that there’s “a growing sense of frustration within the Flyers organization with [Travis] Konecny.” Will James pulled both reports together.
Pittsburgh’s situation isn’t much prettier. The Penguins have at least won a game, unlike their in-state rivals, but Dan Kingerski says they’re not far behind the Flyers if the slide keeps going.
The goalie market is worth watching too, with Connor Hellebuyck at the center of it. Sportsnet’s Jeff Hamilton wrote about how the early-season market for netminders could shape any potential Hellebuyck trade, while Marty Walsh, the NHLPA executive director, told the FAN Hockey Show that no-trade clauses are the player’s right.
That came after Gary Bettman argued they aren’t being used the way they were originally intended. Walsh also said one offseason isn’t enough to start panicking.
There was also a fine handed out on Tuesday. TSN reported that Mathieu Olivier was fined $5,000 after a slash between the legs of Uvis Balinskis. Olivier took a five-minute major and a game misconduct in the Blue Jackets’ 7-3 loss.
Around the rest of the league, the Canadiens lost 5-4 to Washington in the second half of a back-to-back, despite controlling the 5-on-5 play. Marc Dumont had the highlights.
And in Colorado, Dallas beat the Avalanche 3-2 in a shootout. Aarif Deen broke down the good and bad from that one, after a difficult task against the same team on back-to-back nights.
The Bruins’ 6-3 win Tuesday also brought more analysis, including a look at Yaroslav Askarov after Boston scored five times against him. Sheng Peng dug into the numbers, and in Askarov’s case, the analytics have not been kind this season.
Here’s today’s NHL schedule: Sabres at Maple Leafs - 7:00 PM
Islanders at Senators - 7:00 PM
Kraken at Lightning - 7:00 PM
Canucks at Panthers - 7:00 PM
Rangers at Devils - 7:00 PM
Flyers at Red Wings - 7:30 PM
Jets at Blackhawks - 8:00 PM
Sharks at Predators - 8:00 PM
Blues at Wild - 8:00 PM
Mammoth at Oilers - 9:00 PM
In Other News...
Jake DeBrusk Trade Buzz Could Create A Bruins Problem Nearby
Jake DeBrusk has been in the rumor mill since the March trade deadline, and the chatter has only kept his name in circulation as the offseason takes shape. The former Bruins forward, now with the Vancouver Canucks, was recently listed by Adam Gretz of Bleacher Report as a player who could fit with a handful of clubs, a group that also includes the Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings and Minnesota Wild.
From Bostons point of view, the most interesting part of the discussion may be what happens if DeBrusk lands in the Atlantic Division. Two of the teams mentioned are the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators, which would put a familiar face back in the Bruins neighborhood even if there is no indication of a reunion in Boston. The Bruins are expected to keep an eye on where he ends up, but the more immediate concern could be seeing him again in a setting that keeps the rivalry a little too close for comfort. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Prospect Suddenly Faces A Concerning Boston College Setback
Boston College finally got a clean result, beating St. Cloud State 4-0 at home for its first win of the season, and Dean Letourneau helped make it look comfortable with an empty-net goal and an active night throughout. For Bruins fans tracking the Eagles closely, the game offered a useful reminder that there are still bright spots in the program even as the early-season roster has been tested.
Will Moore was not among them, however, as coach Greg Brown confirmed the injured forward missed his second consecutive game. Browns update points to a more cautious timeline than the Eagles would like, and it leaves Boston College waiting for a key piece to return while trying to build on a much-needed breakthrough. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Comeback Featured A Breakthrough Boston Fans Will Love
The Bruins 4-2 comeback win over the Anaheim Ducks had the kind of depth and late-game poise that can carry a team through the early part of a season. Boston got goals from Elias Lindholm and Matthew Poitras to close it out, while David Pastrnak again showed up in a big moment by tying the game and continuing to add to his already important place in the franchise record book.
One of the nights best signs for Boston came from the blue line, where Frederic Brunet made an impact in a way the Bruins have been waiting to see. For a team trying to stack wins and build momentum before meeting the Los Angeles Kings next, getting contributions from across the roster is the sort of development that matters just as much as the final score. [Read more 🡒]