On Dec. 11, the Boston Bruins were in second place in the Atlantic Division. They had 38 points, the same as the first-place Tampa Bay Lightning. They had won four straight and five of their past six.
Joonas Korpisalo had a .935 save percentage during this six-game segment. Jeremy Swayman was at .905.
Six games later, the Bruins have skidded to sixth in the Atlantic. They are out of the top eight in the Eastern Conference. They have lost four straight and five of their past six.
The No. 1 reason is simple. Swayman has an .850 save percentage during the six-game window. Korpisalo has a .706 save percentage. The goals they previously stole have been lighting up the scoreboard. Three of the five losses have been 6-2 blowouts.
The funny thing about all of this: The Bruins played better defense in their past six games than in the six that preceded them.
According to Natural Stat Trick, the Bruins have allowed an average of 2.96 expected all-situations goals against per game over their past six appearances. In the previous segment, they gave up 3.47 per game.
It is more proof that Swayman and Korpisalo have significantly influenced outcomes in both directions. In today’s NHL, though, relying on goaltending can be hazardous to a team’s health. Shooters and systems are too good to ask goalies for consistent negation of offense.
“Looking back at two, three, four weeks ago, we came out and presented ourselves definitely different,” coach Marco Sturm said after Wednesday’s 6-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. “If I want to take out something, that’s it. The break comes at a good time for us, for everyone to regroup and recharge a little bit. Maybe it’s good to start on the road again and find our game again, especially on the defensive side.”
The truth of the matter, though, is that the Bruins have played with fire all year.
Through 38 games, the Bruins have allowed 136.36 expected all-situations goals. It is the most of any team in the league. In reality, they’ve given up 125, fifth-most in the NHL.
Things have been especially pronounced in shorthanded situations. The Bruins have allowed a league-high 30 power-play goals. They have gone on the penalty kill 144 times, which is 19 more PKs than the second-place Chicago Blackhawks (125).
Recording just three points in their past six games has wasted what they had previously banked. Their odds of playoff qualification now stand at 10 percent. After Saturday’s game against the Buffalo Sabres, it’s possible the Bruins fall behind their surging division neighbors. The Sabres have won seven straight games.
Sturm has done well to keep the Bruins in the fight. His team plays with purpose and pride. Nobody enjoys playing against thumpers like Tanner Jeannot, Mark Kastelic and Nikita Zadorov, let alone agreeing to gloves-off belligerence.
The three strongmen have led a charge of players who have met or exceeded individual expectations. Other cohort members include Morgan Geekie, Casey Mittelstadt, Marat Khusnutdinov, Alex Steeves and Jonathan Aspirot.
Only Nathan MacKinnon has more goals than Geekie (25). Mittelstadt, a healthy scratch on Oct. 19 after six quiet games at center, has become more dependable at left wing. Khusnutdinov, scratched for five of the first 10 games, delivers energy and puck pursuit at multiple positions and on different lines. Steeves and Aspirot, who started the year in the AHL, are not returning to Providence anytime soon, if at all.
Aspirot has missed the past six games because of an undisclosed injury. He is likely to return sometime during the upcoming five-game road trip. His physicality and ability to close on opponents have made him a good addition to the blue line. But the undrafted Aspirot is a depth defenseman, not designed to impact results on his own.
This speaks to how the 2025-26 Bruins have to play. The sum has been greater than its parts. When the Bruins are minding their defensive-zone coverage, clogging up center ice, being hard on the forecheck and staying out of the box, hard hats like Aspirot, Steeves, Jeannot and Kastelic get the ball rolling with more momentum than opponents prefer.
As far as other reinforcements, Matej Blumel, Michael Callahan, Jordan Harris and Henri Jokiharju have been skating alongside Aspirot. But like Aspirot, they are depth players. It would be unfair to expect any of them to initiate a turnaround.
It’s up to 18 skaters and two goalies to be better collectively.