The calendar has flipped, and the Boston Bruins continue to navigate their streaky season into a new year. What was predicted to be a very modest campaign for the Bruins has turned into one of surprise as first year coach Marco Sturm continues to impress behind the bench. Currently sitting seventh in the Eastern Conference and in the first wild card spot, Boston is approaching the Olympic break on a heater. Winners in eight of their last nine games, the Bruins are playing some of their best hockey of the season. Here’s what I see as of January 2026 for the Black and Gold.
Sound Goaltending
Jeremy Swayman continues to have the bounce back season fans and management were counting on. At 19-11-2 with a GAA of 2.77 and Save Percentage of 906, Swayman is making last season look like the one-off that it was. Not every start has been good of course and being overworked has proven risky for the club, however he has been solid for the most part. The same can be said for Joonas Korpisalo as of late. What has been a rather pedestrian season for Korpi has taken a turn in 2026. In his last three starts the Finnish goaltender is 3-0 with a shutout to boot. In fact, he has allowed a meager three goals in those starts. The Bruins being able to count on quality starts from Korpisalo allows Swayman to take a breather every third game and that is helping produce sound goaltending and ultimately, more wins.
Staying out of the box
The Bruins lead the league in PIM’s as of January with 660. They have maintained the league lead since October, and it’s been a big reason why they have allowed more goals than expected. However, on this current six game winning streak, Boston has done a much better job at handing powerplays to the opposition. Lazy stick infractions and holding calls have been replaced by overall better efforts. Marco Sturm called their last loss in Seattle “Immature” as Boston gave that game away via powerplay opportunities. The players have gotten the message or as Sean Kuraly said; “We know the recipe moving forward” So far, the team has shown that recipe is to stay out of the box.
Mittelstadt – Zacha – Arvidsson Line
You’re lying if you thought this would be a productive second line back in October. Yet here we are. Not only has this been the Bruins’ most consistent trio, but they are also +12 on the season at 5-on-5. That’s good for fourth best among all lines in the NHL. Though Mittelstadt nor Arvidsson figure to be in the Bruins’ long-term plans, the trio has been a very nice surprise. With Pastrnak and Morgan Geekie the Bruins have legitimate goal scoring, and this second line has spelled relief for them on a consistent basis.
Identity
Not only are the Bruins finding a strong identity under Sturm but some players are taking career leaps as they have found their calling this year. Mark Kastelic, Tanner Jeannot and Sean Kuraly have provided the Bruins with outstanding play. Their forecheck has been relentless. Their penalty kill has them sitting at 78.9% or 18th. While not a top PK like they were earlier this season, many players are debuting as penalty killers for the first time in their careers. Jeannot and Kastelic for example. Through defense first, the Bruins are winning under that identity. One that they have past success with.
Intangibles
While Boston could still see their season go south, they deserve a lot of credit for exceeding expectations under Sturm. With trade talk picking up as the Olympic and NHL trade deadlines approach, Boston appeared to be in the thick of the Rasmus Andersson sweepstakes. For a team still retooling, trading away future draft capital must come with a warning sign. A player like Andersson would have made the Bruins a better team today, and his age does align with the prime years of both Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy, however the Bruins were wise not to make a deal. The Golden Knights acquired Andersson without an extension in place. You would have to think that was a non-starter for GM Don Sweeney. As previously noted, this season can still go the other way, and the Bruins’ 1st round pick could be extremely valuable in June. Any acquisition of a pending free agent would have to come with a contract extension if the Bruins are going to part with any draft picks or youth. Still, investing in an established player could be a part of this retool. One Sweeney has done very well with thus far.
The Lookahead
The Bruins take their six-game winning streak into Dallas Tuesday night and then return to Boston on Thursday to host the Vegas Golden Knights. On Saturday, the Montreal Canadiens visit the TD Garden for the latest installment of their heated rivalry. Three tough opponents for the Bruins to prove they have indeed found the recipe.
G-Rant @TheRealG_Rant/Grant Cumming. Bruins fan. Bigger dreams, bigger screens, bigger feelings are planned.
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