The Boston Bruins have been a bright spot in a year marked by lackluster performances from sports teams across Massachusetts. Following the first 49 games of the season, the Boston Bruins entered the All-Star break, boasting a record of 31 wins to nine regulation and nine overtime losses. They lead the Atlantic Division and stand atop the NHL league standings alongside the Vancouver Canucks, both amassing 71 points. Led by the trio of team captain Brad Marchand and assistant captains David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy, the team rallied from the heart-wrenching playoff defeat last season. They are on track to finish close to where they were the preceding year. Tiago Matos ’26, a devoted Bruins fan, described the team as “on fire” in light of their recent performance.
Following the retirements of captain Patrice Bergeron and long-time Bruin David Krejčí, coupled with the departures of several veteran players, the new team faced the challenge of addressing the gaps in its roster. The acquisitions of prominent players like James van Riemsdyk and Danton Heinen have bolstered the empty positions, and the promotion of players from minor league affiliate team Providence has given the Bruins outstanding depth across the entire roster.
The team started their season strong, winning eight of their nine games in October. Despite the absence of defencemen Matt Grzelcyk ’12 due to injury and Charlie McAvoy’s suspension, the reinforcements called up from Providence filled in their spots, contributing to six wins of their subsequent eight games. The Bruins then went through a challenging period of two losing streaks of three games or more, going 5-6-3 heading into the holiday break. They concluded December on a strong note by winning their last three games and carried the momentum into January with a 9-2-3 record, capped off by a blowout victory over Philadelphia, 6-2.
Right-winger David Pastrnak emerged as a standout performer, leading the teams in goals and assists at 35 and 45, respectively. He earned himself an All-Star game and skills competition invite with these contributions. Other notable skaters include forwards Marchand, Coyle, van Riemsdyk, Zacha, Frederic, Geekie, and Heinen, and defensemen McAvoy, Lindholm, Shattenkirk, Carlo, and Grzelcyk. In the crease, goalie tandem Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark have remained a formidable one-two punch, serving as reliable last-resorts to the strong defense. Ullmark and Swayman made history as the first goal tending duo to make consecutive all-star appearances, with Ullmark in 2023 and Swayman this year in 2024. When discussing this exceptional goalie tandem, Bruins fan Nicky Jones ’26, who played as Belmont Hill JV hockey goaltender, claims, “These guys will be the main reason we bring the cup back to Boston.” Furthermore, on the bench and in the locker room, head coach Jim Montgomery has proven to be one of the best in the league, earning a spot in the All-Star game as a coach for the second consecutive season as a Bruin.
There is much to look forward to for the second half of the season. Despite the rough stretch following the All-Star break, the Bruins, with their resilience, will continue into the playoffs with a favorable seeding if they can keep up their pace. Fans can hope for a deep playoff run as the Bruins contend for the Stanley Cup, reviving a much-needed sense of sports success for Boston at a time when the city needs it most. Now, only time will tell, but there is reason to hope for a Stanley Cup Parade in Boston.
