Liam MacKenzie – Treasurer/Sports Editor
Boston, MA – The wait is finally over. Bruins hockey returned to TD Garden on Sunday, and although the preseason opener did not count toward the regular-season standings, Boston gave its fans plenty of reasons to be excited about the season ahead.
The Bruins rallied twice before defeating the Washington Capitals 3-2 in a shootout, opening their four-game preseason schedule with a victory. More importantly, several young players stepped up while Michael DiPietro delivered an impressive performance in net, as Boston battled through a physical game against a Capitals team that brought plenty of toughness throughout the night.
Washington Strikes First – The Capitals opened the scoring at 8:48 of the first period when Jonny Brodzinski fired a one-timer from the left circle past DiPietro. Washington’s goal came shortly after Boston successfully killed off a five-on-three penalty, putting the Bruins behind despite some strong early penalty killing.
Boston struggled to generate much offense during the opening period, but the Bruins continued to battle. The physicality and defensive effort helped keep the game within reach as Boston headed into the second period trailing by just one.
Schmaltz Gets Boston on the Board – The Bruins finally broke through in the second period. After Riley Duran battled for the puck along the end boards, he worked it back to Jake Schmaltz, who buried a wrist shot from the slot at 15:32 for Boston’s first goal of the preseason.
For Schmaltz, the goal was an important moment in his bid to make an impression during training camp. The 25-year-old forward spent last season with Providence after playing at the University of North Dakota and showed that he can make an impact when given an opportunity.
DiPietro Stands Tall – One of the biggest stories of the night was Michael DiPietro. The goaltender stopped 30 shots during regulation and overtime, repeatedly keeping the Bruins within striking distance while Washington generated dangerous chances.
DiPietro’s performance was particularly important considering the opportunity in front of him. With Boston evaluating its goaltending situation heading into the regular season, his strong preseason debut gave the coaching staff plenty to like.
Capitals Take the Lead Again – Washington regained the lead early in the third period when Ivan Miroshnichenko scored at 5:32. The Capitals forward finished the night with a goal and an assist, creating several problems for Boston’s defense throughout the game.
The Bruins once again found themselves chasing the game, but they refused to go away. Boston continued applying pressure as the clock wound down, setting up one of the biggest moments of the night.
McAvoy Comes Through – With just 1:43 remaining in the third period, Charlie McAvoy stepped up in a major way. Following an offensive-zone faceoff win by Matt Poitras, McAvoy blasted a one-timer from the point past Logan Thompson to tie the game at 2-2 and force overtime.
It was exactly the type of veteran play Boston needed. McAvoy controlled the game from the blue line throughout the night, contributing on both special-teams units while providing a major offensive spark when the Bruins needed it most.
DiPietro Finishes the Job – Neither team could find the winning goal during overtime, sending the Bruins and Capitals to a shootout. DiPietro saved all three Washington attempts, giving Boston’s shooters the opportunity to finish the comeback.
Then came James Hagens. The highly touted young forward beat Thompson with a slick five-hole backhander, becoming the only player to score in the shootout and officially giving Boston the 3-2 victory.
Hagens Makes His Mark – Hagens was one of the Bruins’ most noticeable young players throughout the game. Playing alongside Marat Khusnutdinov and Fraser Minten, the 19-year-old generated several offensive opportunities before delivering the decisive moment in the shootout.
The shootout goal was especially impressive because Hagens had used a similar move during a training-camp scrimmage the previous day. Head coach Marco Sturm noted that Hagens tried the same move again and it worked once more.
A Promising First Step – The Bruins still have plenty to work on, particularly after taking eight penalties and going just 1-for-6 on the power play. But the team’s ability to overcome two separate one-goal deficits showed the competitiveness and resilience Boston wants to carry into the regular season.
For Sturm, the effort was one of the most encouraging parts of the night. The Bruins’ young players battled through a difficult game, while veterans like McAvoy provided leadership and players such as DiPietro, Schmaltz and Hagens made strong cases for themselves.
The Road to October Begins – It may only be preseason, but the first Bruins game of 2026-27 already provided a glimpse of what Boston could look like when the games begin to count. A comeback win, a strong performance from DiPietro and a shootout winner from one of the organization’s brightest young players made for a memorable opening night.
The Bruins are back, and while there are still preseason games to play and roster decisions to make, Boston started its journey toward October with a bear-y good start.
