Bruins Recap - Week Ending November 1st, 2025: Back on track

(Photo Credit: Boston Bruins via X)

In what's been a roller coaster start to the season, it's only fitting that the Boston Bruins find themselves with a record of 7-7-0 through fourteen games.

This time last week, Boston had finally snapped a six game, regulation losing streak after winning their first three games of the season.

One would think that ridding the monkey off their back against a supremely talented team in the Colorado Avalanche, would have helped the Bruins play a little more stress free, and with confidence heading into their next game in Ottawa against the Senators.

Well, that wasn't the case.

Boston played their worst game of the season by far.

Sure they had found themselves in multi goal deficits throughout their losing streak, but to their credit they always found a way to come back and make games close.

But not in Ottawa.

After scoring the first goal of the game, the Bruins then allowed the next seven and looked completely uninspired, and uncompetitive in the process.

It was the first time this year that they had just rolled over and let a game get away from them - a game that was reminiscent of far too much of last season.

After a 7-2 loss - in a divisional game against a Senators team without the services of their captain, Brady Tkachuck - Boston found themselves with an overall record of 4-7-0 and losers in 7 of their last 8.

With their season effectively in the balance, it was up to the Bruins to end October on a winning note in their final two games if they wanted any hope of having a competitive, playoff hopeful season.

Back home against 2025 No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer and the New York Islanders, Boston once again seemed destined for another embarrassing loss down 2-0 five minutes into the game.

However, after a rather lifeless 1st period, the team rallied behind an Elias Lindholm power play goal and stormed back to score five unanswered goals earning a 5-2 win.

Then on a rainy Thursday evening the Bruins welcomed the Buffalo Sabres back to TD Garden for the second time already this season having already defeated their divisional opponent back in game three of the season.

Morgan Geekie's 9th tally of the season gave Boston a 1-0 lead and extended his goal streak to 6 games - a streak that would come to an end Saturday against Carolina.

In case you were wondering what the longest goal streak is in Bruins history?

9 games - a record set by Phil Esposito during the 1970-1971 season where he had 14 goals from March 6 - March 21, 1971.

Anyways, back to 2025.

David Pastrnak's 7th goal of the year gave Boston a 2-0 lead before an Elias Lindholm injury increased the animosity at ice level.

Lindholm collided with Sabres forward, Jordan Greenway in what looked like relatively innocent contact.

Lindholm left the game and appears to be out for at least the next few weeks.

Mark Kastelic later gave the Bruins a 3-1 cushion heading into the 3rd period, but Buffalo ended up forcing overtime before Marat Khusnutdinov's first lamp lighter of the year sent the home crowd home happy.

Now winners of two straight, the Bruins looked to weather a storm coming in up the east coast in the Carolina Hurricanes.

Carolina is one of the better teams in the league, and has been for some time now despite their lack of deep postseason success.

They're a hard working team with speed, skill, defensive stinginess, and a relentless forecheck - a real test for Boston despite being down a few of their top defensemen in Jaccob Slavin, K'Andre Miller, and Shayne Gostisbehere.

Fortunately on this day, the Bruins passed the test and put forth their best effort so far this season in terms of executing their defensive, and neural zone structure and systems.

It was a hard fought, back and forth affair by both teams that featured only two minor penalties all game - one on each side.

Scoreless entering the 3rd period, it was Casey Mittelstadt who broke the ice.

Mittelstadt skated the puck out of Boston's defensive zone before sliding a lateral pass to Pavel Zacha at the left hand side of Carolina's defensive blue line.

As Mittelstadt drove to the net, Zacha would earn his 10th assist of the season passing the puck over to Charlie McAvoy joining the play late who then connected with Mittelstadt at the left post for the tap in.

McAvoy and Mittelstadt weren't done hitting the score sheet just yet however.

After a Taylor Hall shot was blocked in the slot by McAvoy, Mittelstadt picked up the loose puck and feathered a pass into the neutral zone for a springing Viktor Arvidsson to skate into.

Arvidsson made no mistake and snapped home a wrist shot from the right circle in what proved to be the eventual game winning goal.

So now in the middle of three game winning streak, what's changed for Boston?

Well the return of Hampus Lindholm is perhaps the biggest difference.

Boston hasn't lost since his latest return and are now 6-1-0 this season when Hampus Lindholm is in the lineup.

Another development has been the improved play of McAvoy who finally seems to be playing to the caliber expected of him after being paired with Nikita Zadorov in four of Boston's last five games - all wins.

Zadorov's size, physicality and steady defensive play has allowed McAvoy to play bigger and a bit more assertive and instinctual - a stark contrast as to how he's played when being partnered up with Mason Lohrei.

Lohrei's defensive deficiencies left McAvoy overthinking and trying to do too much rather than playing the game in front of him.

While Lohrei has been a healthy scratch in all of Boston's last three wins - Jonathan Aspirot has brought an element of steadiness, simplicity and toughness to Boston's 3rd pair.

Henri Jokiharju continues to be underwhelming and a turnover machine at times, so perhaps Lohrei can get back into the line up at Jokiharju's expense?

Or maybe head coach, Marco Sturm, elects to keep the same lineup until their win streak comes to an end?

Either way, Boston's team defense has improved with the return of Hampus Lindholm, McAvoy and Zadorov being paired together and being Lohrei scratched.

The Bruins will look to keep the good times rolling this week with games at the Islanders, and then home against the Senators and Maple Leafs.

November is traditionally an important month in the NHL because most of the time the teams that are in the playoff picture come American Thanksgiving are the ones who end up making the cut in April.

Boston has done a fine job of climbing out of the 4-7-0 hole they found themselves in last week to get back to .500 - but they still have a lot more work to do to get above .500 and stay there by this time next month and beyond.