![\"While](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/ZI5ZY2YCEIZ2GDRVYEOBI5ZYNA.jpg\")
While Jeremy Swayman’s stellar play in goal wasn’t that much of a surprise, the regularly solid play from young center Fraser Minten (93) gave the Bruins a huge lift this season.John Tlumacki\/Globe Staff<\/p>\nThis was not the popular thought inside the locker room.<\/p>\n
The Bruins bonded quickly, they believed in each other, and they had each other\u2019s backs.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think from Day 1, we were saying we were tight, you could feel it. Didn\u2019t take us long to get together, get tight as a group, and understand we have to play for each other,\u201d said David Pastrnak. \u201cSo, we had that feeling pretty early on in the season. So then it\u2019s easier to go to work every single day with these guys, and I love going into the battles with them. <\/p>\n
Get Starting Point<\/p>\n
A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo I think the way we came together right away from Day 1, we could sense it. But at the end of the day, it\u2019s full team effort and everybody deserves where we are right now.\u201d<\/p>\n
For those who don\u2019t turn their attention to hockey until the playoffs start, here\u2019s the CliffsNotes (Coles Notes for our Canadian pals) on the Bruins season.<\/p>\n
While Jeremy Swayman’s stellar play in goal wasn’t that much of a surprise, the regularly solid play from young center Fraser Minten (93) gave the Bruins a huge lift this season.John Tlumacki\/Globe Staff<\/p>\n
The Bruins received contributions up and down the lineup. Even casual fans are aware of Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy, Morgan Geekie, and Jeremy Swayman. Here are five guys who exceeded all expectations.<\/p>\n
1. Fraser Minten \u2014 The baby-faced center was on the roster bubble near the end of training camp \u2014 a surprise revelation that coach Marco Sturm acknowledged this week \u2014 but when the lights came on for real, the 21-year-old was exceptional.<\/p>\n
He held down the third-line center spot, and had some cameos on the top line, despite revolving doors at both wing spots. He played all 82 games, finished with 17 goals and 35 points, and developed into one of the club\u2019s best penalty killers. His plus-21 rating is tops on the team among forwards.<\/p>\n
2. Jonathan Aspirot \u2014 A career AHLer, the Bruins signed the defenseman for organizational depth, but he moved up the charts quickly. He started in Providence, was brought up to Boston, worked his way to the top pairing with McAvoy, and earned a two-year NHL contract extension<\/a> in January.<\/p>\n Aspirot (that\u2019s AS-pihr-oh, eh?) is a solid defender who closes quickly and can punish forwards. His presence allows McAvoy the freedom to freelance offensively, and the 26-year-old\u2019s plus-30 is tops on the team.<\/p>\n 3. Marat Khusnutdinov \u2014 An absolute water bug on skates, Khusnutdinov goes full tilt, full time. He has played up and down the lineup at both wing and center. Generously listed at 5 feet 11 inches, the man teammates call \u201cKhusy\u201d (pronounced \u201cWho-see\u201d) is always in the middle of the action.<\/p>\n The magical Muscovite is an excellent penalty killer, and his four-goal performance against the Rangers<\/a> in January was one of the season\u2019s signature moments.<\/p>\n 4. Mason Lohrei \u2014 The big defender took big heat from fans after he was a league-low minus-43 last season. What many forgot was that Lohrei was playing nearly 20 minutes a night in 2024-25 because of injuries to Hampus Lindholm and McAvoy.<\/p>\n This season, Lohrei, playing about 17 minutes per game, brushed off a November benching and January trade rumors to submit a solid plus-17, including a plus-4 in the season finale<\/a>. Sure, there\u2019s hiccups, but Lohrei is a much better player now, and he has 11 playoff games under his belt.<\/p>\n 5. Pavel Zacha \u2014 OK, you might say, \u201cI know Pavel Zacha.\u201d But do you know this Pavel Zacha?<\/p>\n The center hit career highs in goals (30) and points (65) while still playing his elite brand of 200-foot hockey. He missed playing in the Olympics because of a concussion<\/a> and used that bitterness as motivation, collecting 15 goals and 27 points since the return. <\/p>\n He\u2019s the middleman on a second line with Casey Mittelstadt and Viktor Arvidsson that finished a combined for 70 goals and a plus-32.<\/p>\n Here are five notable games that set the tone, or turned the tide, for the season.<\/p>\n Oct. 8: Boston 3, Washington 1<\/a> \u2014 The belief in Sturm\u2019s hybrid\/zone systems started on Opening Night. After drilling and studying in the preseason, the Bruins played a near perfect game on the road.<\/p>\n Oct. 25: Boston 3, Colorado 2<\/a> \u2014 Mired in an early six-game losing streak, the Bruins hosted the NHL\u2019s best team and scored a sigh-of-relief win that reinforced their belief that they could hang with any team.<\/p>\n Dec. 11: Boston 6, Winnipeg 3<\/a> \u2014 McAvoy returned to the lineup after missing 11 games and losing 20 pounds after taking a puck to the face in Montreal. The defenseman looked like he never missed a beat, playing more than 24 minutes, collecting an assist and finishing with a plus-4. <\/p>\n March 21: Boston 4, Detroit 2<\/a> \u2014 Trailing, 2-1, early in the third period, Boston stormed back with three goals to post a playoff-like win in a very loud and hostile environment. Swayman finished with 42 saves and his third-period performance was downright Cheevers-like.<\/p>\n March 29: Boston 4, Columbus 3 (SO)<\/a> \u2014 The Bruins fell behind early, but heavyweights Tanner Jeannot and Mark Kastelic turned the tide. Jeannot battered Erik Gudbranson and Kastelic hung with Mathieu Olivier (the league\u2019s toughest fighter). The Boston bench was buoyed by the bouts and Arvidsson capped the comeback with a shootout goal. <\/p>\n Much like the Red Wings, the Blue Jackets were never the same team after the Bruins came to town and took the wind out of their playoff sails.<\/p>\n OK, the fisticuffs taper off in the playoffs as teams can\u2019t afford to be traipsing to the penalty box. Nastiness, however, is encouraged and essential at this time of year.<\/p>\n Kastelic, Jeannot, and Sean Kuraly play a heavy game, and will be poised to hit everything in sight when the puck drops in Buffalo. The Bruins fourth line could be the key to successful playoff run.<\/p>\n Jim McBride can be reached at james.mcbride@globe.com<\/a>. Follow him @globejimmcbride<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Pavel](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/RBTLWEJMK6X6K2HQZAM325QNUE.JPG\")
Pavel Zacha (18) and Casey Mittelstadt (right) have teamed with Viktor Arvidsson to form one of the most underrated, potent lines in the NHL since the Olympic break. Danielle Parhizkaran\/Globe Staff<\/p>\n![\"Bruins](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/BWTK7TZZUZEFLI3RVWBOYY6EXI.jpg\")
Bruins fourth-liner Tanner Jeannot (right) drops the gloves with Blue Jackets big-man Erik Gudbranson in one of two bouts the turned the tide in Columbus on March 29.Jason Mowry\/Getty<\/p>\n