Bruins Honor a Legend, Then Handle Business Against Kraken
On an emotional night at TD Garden, the Boston Bruins delivered both a tribute and a statement. Before the puck even dropped, the spotlight was on Zdeno Chara, the towering former captain whose No. 33 now hangs in the rafters alongside the legends of the franchise. But once the ceremony wrapped and the game began, the Bruins wasted no time setting the tone on the ice.
Boston jumped on the Seattle Kraken early, with Marat Khusnutdinov and Viktor Arvidsson each finding the back of the net in the first 3:45 of the game. That quick burst put the Bruins in control from the outset, and they never really looked back, skating off with a 4-2 win-their seventh victory in the last eight games and a clean sweep of a five-game homestand for the first time since 2019.
A Night for No. 33
Before we get into the nuts and bolts of the game, it’s worth pausing on the moment that kicked off the night. Zdeno Chara, the 6-foot-9 anchor of Boston’s blue line for 14 seasons and the captain of the 2011 Stanley Cup squad, was honored in front of a packed house.
Hall of Famers Bobby Orr and Cam Neely were on hand, and in a fitting touch, it was Chara’s children who raised his banner to the rafters. It was a moment that blended history, legacy, and emotion-everything Boston sports fans live for.
Fast Start Fuels Boston
The Bruins came out flying. Just 54 seconds in, Khusnutdinov took a stretch pass from Charlie McAvoy, broke in alone on Joey Daccord, and tucked a slick backhand past the Kraken goalie to open the scoring.
Less than three minutes later, Arvidsson tried to center the puck to Casey Mittelstadt, but the pass deflected off Seattle’s Jordan Eberle and into the net. It wasn’t how Arvidsson drew it up, but the result was the same-2-0 Bruins before the Kraken could settle in.
Seattle burned an early timeout after that second goal, a move that may have come back to haunt them later in the night when they needed a breather while down two players in the final minute.
Kraken Push Back, But Bruins Respond
To their credit, the Kraken didn’t fold. Chandler Stephenson cut the deficit in half, giving Seattle some life. But just when it looked like the momentum might shift, Boston’s penalty kill flipped the script.
Mark Kastelic made a heads-up play, stripping Matty Beniers and taking off the other way. He finished the short-handed breakaway with poise, restoring a two-goal cushion and giving the Bruins a jolt of energy at a key moment.
Eeli Tolvanen added a late goal for Seattle, but with back-to-back penalties leaving the Kraken shorthanded and without their timeout, they were forced to pull Daccord for a five-on-four gamble. That opened the door for David Pastrnak, who sealed the win with an empty-netter with just 15 seconds left.
Swayman Solid Again
Jeremy Swayman quietly turned in another strong performance, stopping 26 shots and holding the Kraken at bay during key stretches. He’s been a steady presence during Boston’s recent run, and his calm under pressure continues to be a major asset.
Looking Ahead
The Bruins are rolling, and Thursday night was a reminder of both their past and their present. Honoring Chara was a nod to the foundation this team was built on.
The win that followed? That’s about where they’re headed.
As for Seattle, the Kraken have now dropped four of their last five and will try to regroup before heading to Utah on Saturday. They’ve shown flashes, but consistency remains elusive.
In Boston, though, the message was clear: legends are celebrated, but the current group is chasing greatness of its own.