The Bruins got a big boost to their lineup in back-to-back games to start this 3-game trip.
David Pastrnak returned against the Blues and contributed 3 assists in the return as the
Bruins easily handled the struggling Blues for the 2nd time in less than a week. Outside of
Pasta’s return, the other major headline in this game was depth scoring, with 2 goals
coming from Fraser Minten and Mark Kastelic. It’s an important theme to these recent
Bruins’ wins, and with the return of the stars, I hope the confidence gained by some in their
absence carries over.
The Bruins then went north of the border to Winnipeg in which Charlie MacAvoy, less than a
month after breaking his jaw from a puck to the face, shockingly returned the to the lineup.
Pasta lead the Bruins yet again with 2 goals and 2 assists, Mittelstadt, the Lindholms and
Kuraly each added a goal apiece as the Bruins cruised to a 6-3 victory. The Jets have been
without star goalie Connor Hellebucyk, and it has surely caused problems as Eric Comrie
allowed 5 goals on just 23 Bruins shots.
While the Bruins had a few days of rest after their game in Winnipeg, major news broke
across the NHL as top 3 defenseman in all of hockey, Quinn Hughes was traded from the
Vancouver Canucks to the Minnesota Wild for a 2026 1st Round Pick, Zeev Buium, Marco
Rossi, and Liam Ohgren. Hughes who had revealed hesitancy to resign with Vancouver still
has a year and a half remaining on his current contract. The Wild looking to open a Stanley
Cup window welcome Hughes’ elite puck handling and skating ability to their strong blue
line core and explosive o[ense in order to compete in the top heavy Central division.
The Bruins got the first look at #43 in Wild jersey in Minneapolis last night and laid an egg in
the final game of the road trip. The B’s struggled mightily in this one trailing 3-0 after 2, and
it finished 6-2. Steeves and Peeke got the two goals for the Bruins in the 3rd, but far too late
and rather uncompetitively. Quinn Hughes scored in his Wild debut firing a snapshot by
Swayman who struggled in this one allowing 6 goals on 31 shots. The Bruins will head
home for a 4 game home stand, 3 of which played against Western Conference opponents.
Utah Mammoth come to Boston on Tuesday night, followed by Edmonton on Thursday,
Vancouver on Saturday, and Ottawa on Sunday.