The Bruins knew how important this game was. David Pastrnak on Monday declared it their “most important game so far” and a “must-win.”

For 40 minutes, Boston played like it. But in the third period, with the game hanging in the balance, the Bruins completely unraveled against their archrivals, surrendering four straight goals to the Montreal Canadiens in what quickly turned into a humiliating 6-2 defeat.

Now, the Bruins enter their three-day Christmas break having lost four games in a row, all on home ice. They have fallen out of a playoff spot and are sinking fast in a crowded Eastern Conference. So many of the positive vibes that had been built up over this first half of the season have faded away.

For the second time this year – and the first since a six-game losing streak in October – the Bruins have arrived at a gut-check moment. Either they regroup over the holiday, dig deep, and turn things around on their upcoming five-game road trip, or this season could slip away from them before they even get to the Olympic break in February.

The second period Tuesday wasn’t great for the Bruins. They got outshot 12-5 and outscored 1-0. And yet, the game was still tied 2-2 going to the third. The Bruins almost had the lead, as Elias Lindholm appeared to score with five seconds left in the period, only to have it waved off for goalie interference. Bruins coach Marco Sturm decided not to challenge, believing that Pastrnak’s stick may indeed have interfered with Montreal goalie Jacob Fowler – even if it was contact from Canadiens forward Juraj Slafkovsky that affected Fowler more.

When the Habs took the lead 7:04 into the third, Sturm did decide to challenge, believing that contact from Nick Suzuki had prevented Jeremy Swayman from being able to make a play on Zachary Bolduc’s put-back. It seemed like a bit of a Hail Mary, as Suzuki’s contact was minimal, and sure enough, the call on the ice of a good goal was upheld.

Marco Sturm explains why the Bruins didn’t challenge their no-goal at the end of the second period, but did challenge the Canadiens’ go-ahead goal in the third. pic.twitter.com/RCjddRYC8q

— WEEI (@WEEI) December 24, 2025

That is when the unraveling really began. The Canadiens went on the power play thanks to the lost challenge, and then Tanner Jeannot gave them a 5-on-3 with a crosscheck – a call that Sturm deemed “soft” after the game, but a play that was undisciplined nonetheless. Cole Caufield converted on the 5-on-3 to make it a 4-2 game.

Then, with Jeannot still in the box, Hampus Lindholm handed the Habs another extended 5-on-3 when he tripped Oliver Kapanen on a zone entry. They again made the Bruins pay, this time with Suzuki doing the honors. Two minutes later, Slafkovsky turned it into a laugher with Montreal’s sixth goal of the night.

After the game, Bruins players took ownership of their penalty problems, something that has plagued them all season. They also cited “fatigue” – both mental and physical – as a factor in this recent slide.

“What I think is, it’s mental fatigue,” David Pastrnak said. “I’ve been seeing it in a couple games, a couple days. Sometimes that stuff happens leading into break. Should’ve kept it under control. It’s on me.”

Pastrnak says he thinks the team is dealing with some mental fatigue and he put part of the blame on himself:

“What I think is it’s the mental fatigue, I’ve been seeing it in a couple games…

“I need to be better. I’m not happy with my game today so that one is on me.” pic.twitter.com/D6klDnU1EP

— Bridgette Proulx (@bridgetteproulx) December 24, 2025

Every team is dealing with fatigue, though. The compressed, Olympic-year schedule has been tough on everyone. But, the Canadiens had actually played more games than the Bruins over the last 10 days. They, too, were playing their third game in four nights Tuesday.

Asked if he was disappointed that his team couldn’t do a better job fighting through any fatigue, Sturm was adamant that he’s not.

“Guys are trying. I can tell you that. They try,” Sturm said. “…I thought guys had a lot of jump through the first three months, and this was the first week I would say, the first time that you could tell a little bit. So, again, these guys, trust me: they try everything. I can’t say it enough, because maybe in the score, it doesn’t look that way. But these guys, it’s a good group, and they care.”

Multiple Bruins cited fatigue as a reason for the team’s recent play.

Sturm: “Guys are trying. I can tell you that. … It’s a good group, and they care.” pic.twitter.com/4Ox2SmewTU

— Scott McLaughlin (@smclaughlin9) December 24, 2025

If the Bruins are tired, then perhaps this three-day Christmas break really is coming at the perfect time for them. But they’re going to have prove they’re capable of turning this around, starting Saturday night in Buffalo.

“We gotta come up with some points if we want to be a playoff team,” Nikita Zadorov said. “…We still have a lot of belief in this room we’re a good team, and we’re going to do it.”

Nikita Zadorov: “It is disappointment. It’s not what we want to show our fans.”

Adds: “We still have a lot of belief in this room we’re a good team.” pic.twitter.com/nmnJjPydtO

— Scott McLaughlin (@smclaughlin9) December 24, 2025