BOSTON – The Boston Bruins got the 2026-27 season started on the right foot. 

The Bruins beat the New York Rangers 3-0 at TD Garden on Tuesday night. Fraser Minten (1), JJ Peterka (1), and Mark Kastelic (1) all scored within a 75-second span late in the third to give the Bruins an opening night win. 

Jeremy Swayman made 24 saves in a shutout. 

It was the first game under a new regime for the Bruins. David Pastrnak received a loud standing ovation when public address announcer Jake Zimmer welcomed the new captain to the ice. Tanner Jeannot and Hampus Lindholm were introduced as alternate captains, with Jeannot filling in during McAvoy’s suspension. 

Nikita Zadorov provided the physicality early on. He connected with new Ranger Oliver Bjorkstrand in the Bruins’ defensive zone, answering the “hard out” call Cam Neely is looking for. 

Pastrnak was sprung on a breakaway but lost control of the puck, and Marcus Pettersson caught up to him. That proved to be one of the Bruins’ best looks of the first period.

Neither team converted on a power play in the first 20 minutes; both teams went 0-for-1 on the night. Marco Sturm deployed a unit of Pastrnak, Peterka, Pavel Zacha, Morgan Geekie, and Hampus Lindholm. Sturm also gave Mason Lohrei a look on the top power-play unit. 

The Bruins and Rangers went to the locker room after a scoreless first period with the Bruins holding a 7-5 advantage in shots. 

The Bruins’ second line, consisting of Zacha, Geekie, and Casey Mittelstadt, started the second period with a strong shift. Geekie rang the crossbar. A Zacha breakaway followed, but that was turned aside by Igor Shesterkin’s glove, then Geekie’s rebound sailed just wide. 

Shesterkin stepped up again just a few minutes later, denying Fraser Minten on a 2-on-1 with Marat Khusnutdinov. He then denied Pastrnak on a 2-on-1 after the captain tried to go five-hole.

Neither team dropped the gloves nor took a penalty in the middle frame. However, Matt Rempe looked to exchange pleasantries with Nikita Zadorov, and shortly after, Mark Kastelic and Tye Kartye almost engaged. 

Through two periods, Zadorov led all skaters with seven hits. He finished the game with eight.  

The Rangers brought the offense early in the third period, including a Pavel Dorofeyev breakaway and JT Miller follow-up, but Swayman denied both chances. He made another save, and New York’s Tye Kartye poked the puck by Swayman after the whistle, and there was no review. 

Fraser Minten opened the scoring with 3:46 remaining in regulation. He received a backhand feed from Mason Lohrei, entered the offensive zone, and beat Shesterkin with a wrist shot from 36 feet out. 

Just 52 seconds later, Elias Lindholm played the puck to JJ Peterka, who undressed Braden Schneider and moved in on Shesterkin. For his first goal in an eight-spoked B, Peterka beat the Russian goaltender five-hole and extended the Bruins’ lead.  

The Rangers pulled Shesterkin for an extra attacker, and Mark Kastelic potted the empty-net goal to make it 3-0 Boston. 

All three goals came in a 75-second span. 

The Bruins have won seven of their last eight season-opening games. They have also won seven of their last eight home openers. 

The Bruins will now embark on their first road trip of the season. They will head northwest and continue the 2026-27 season on Friday in Winnipeg, then on Saturday in Minnesota. 

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