The Boston Bruins’ preseason continues on the road.
The Bruins opened the 2026-27 preseason with two home wins: a 3-2 shootout win over Washington and a 5-1 win against the Philadelphia Flyers. They will face each of those two teams over the next two days, with the first stop in Philadelphia.
Under the new CBA, the NHL is expanding to an 84-game regular season and cutting preseason games from six to four. Players with over 100 games of NHL experience are restricted to just two preseason games, and eight of those players must dress per game.
This will be the last preseason game for Charlie McAvoy, Henri Jokiharju, Jordan Harris, Brendan Gaunce, Sean Kuraly, and Mikey Eyssimont.
This is the second of two meetings between the Bruins and Flyers this preseason. The Bruins and Flyers have met twice in each of the last five preseasons, and while the games do not count, the Bruins are now 5-2-4 in that span.
The Red Sox are on, and September baseball takes priority on NESN. Judd Sirott and Andy Brickley will have the television broadcast on NESNplus, and Ryan Johnston has the radio call on 98.5 The Sports Hub.
Bruins Morning Skate Notes
The Bruins will not hold a morning skate today. Marco Sturm will speak just before the Bruins head for their flight to Philadelphia.
It will be the third preseason game for Frederic Brunet, and his defensive partner Charlie McAvoy is back in the lineup. Brunet, with only one game of NHL experience, is not capped at two.
It’s also the first preseason game for Billy Sweezey, who had an upper-body injury at the start of camp.
James Hagens will get a chance to impress without Fraser Minten and Marat Khusnutdinov on his line. Marco Sturm will debut new line combinations during warmups.
Absent from the lineup is Matt Poitras; Sturm said he was day-to-day with a lower-body injury. Poitras centered a line with Attilio Biasca and Lukas Reichel on his wings throughout camp, and both of his wingers are playing Thursday.
Mason Lohrei is also absent from the roster; he did not practice Wednesday.
Bruins Roster
Forwards: (21) Alex Steeves, (23) Brendan Gaunce*, (44) James Hagens, (48) Brian Halonen, (49) Ivan Ivan, (52) Sean Kuraly*, (53) Joey Abate, (56) Dans Locmelis, (62) Riley Duran, (71) Attilio Biasca, (76) Lukas Reichel*, (81) Mikey Eyssimont*, (82) Jake Schmaltz
Defensemen: (20) Henri Jokiharju*, (42) Frederic Brunet, (43) Jordan Harris*, (45) Jonathan Aspirot, (58) Billy Sweezey, (67) Ty Gallagher, (73) Charlie McAvoy*
Goalies: (30) Michael DiPietro, (31) Jiri Patera
*More than 100 NHL games played
Flyers Roster
TBD. The Flyers have not released their game roster yet
Preseason Schedule
Sunday, September 20, 5:00 PM: vs. Washington – W 3-2, F/SO
Tuesday, September 22, 7:00 PM: vs. Philadelphia – W 5-1
Thursday, September 24, 7:00 PM: at Philadelphia – Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Friday, September 25, 7:00 PM: at Washington – Capital One Arena, Washington, DC
How To Watch
Start: 7:00 PM
TV: NESNplus
Radio: 98.5 The Sports Hub
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