Liam MacKenzie – Treasurer/Sports Editor
Boston, MA – The dress rehearsals are over, the roster is set and now it’s time to drop the puck. The Boston Bruins finished the preseason with a 2-1-1 record, closing out four exhibition games before turning its attention to Opening Night and the start of the 2026-27 campaign.
A Shootout Win Starts the Preseason – Boston opened its preseason slate against the Washington Capitals on September 20 at TD Garden, skating away with a 3-2 shootout victory. James Hagens scored the deciding goal in the shootout, while Michael DiPietro helped close out the win in net after stopping all three of Washington’s attempts.
Bruins Roll Past Philadelphia – The Bruins kept the momentum going two nights later, cruising past the Philadelphia Flyers, 5-1, at TD Garden. Mikey Eyssimont scored twice, while Morgan Geekie, Brian Halonen and Elias Lindholm also found the back of the net in a game where Boston scored four times in the third period.
The victory also gave several players competing for roster spots another opportunity to make their case. Frederic Brunet recorded two assists, while Eyssimont’s two-goal performance gave the veteran forward a strong showing as Boston continued evaluating its lineup.
Flyers Shut Out Boston – Boston’s perfect start came to an end in Philadelphia on September 24, as the Flyers handed the Bruins a 2-0 loss. Matvei Michkov and Cole Knuble provided the scoring for Philadelphia, while the Bruins were unable to solve the Flyers’ goaltending.
The loss gave Boston one final opportunity to evaluate some of its younger players before the preseason finale. James Hagens continued to receive significant attention throughout the exhibition schedule as he competed for a spot on the Opening Night roster.
Preseason Finale Ends in Overtime – Boston closed out the preseason against Washington on September 25, falling 3-2 in overtime at Capital One Arena. The Bruins erased a two-goal deficit in the third period, with Morgan Geekie and David Pastrňák finding the back of the net before Washington eventually secured the win in overtime.
Despite the loss, Boston finished the preseason with a 2-1-1 record and had one final look at the players battling for spots on the regular-season roster. With the exhibition schedule officially complete, the Bruins could finally turn their attention toward Opening Night.
Biggest Takeaways From the Preseason – One of the biggest storylines coming out of the preseason was the emergence of Boston’s younger players. James Hagens, Fraser Minten and Marat Khusnutdinov continued to build chemistry, with the trio spending time together throughout camp and forming what the Bruins have referred to as their “kid line.”
Hagens in particular continued to make his presence felt as he pushed for a full-time NHL role. The 19-year-old forward entered camp with experience from the previous season and used the preseason as another opportunity to show that he could handle the pace and physicality of the NHL.
Another takeaway was the impact of players looking to establish themselves within the Bruins’ lineup. Eyssimont’s two-goal performance against Philadelphia and Brunet’s strong preseason helped put their names into the conversation as Boston worked through its final roster discussions.
Opening Night Roster Is Set – With the preseason now in the rearview mirror, the Bruins have officially set their Opening Night roster. The group features 13 forwards, seven defensemen and two goaltenders, with Charlie McAvoy and Matthew Poitras listed under the IR/Suspended portion of the roster.
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The forward group features familiar names such as David Pastrňák, Elias Lindholm, Morgan Geekie, Casey Middlestadt and Pavel Zacha, while Hagens, Minten, Khusnutdinov and JJ Peterka represent some of the younger pieces entering the season. On defense, Boston will have Jonathan Aspirot, Will Borgen, Frederic Brunet, Connor Clifton, Hampus Lindholm, Nikita Zadorov and Mason Lohrei available.
Hagens Makes the Roster – Perhaps the biggest takeaway from the roster announcement is Hagens officially earning a spot to begin the season. The seventh overall pick from the 2025 NHL Draft spent the preseason showing that he could compete for an NHL role, and his inclusion gives Boston another young offensive option.
Hagens will enter the season alongside a group that combines young talent with experienced veterans. His development will be one of the storylines to follow as the Bruins begin the regular season.
Pastrňák Begins a New Era – David Pastrňák will also begin the season with a new responsibility after being named the Bruins’ 28th captain. The longtime Boston star will wear the “C” as the Bruins enter a new season with Pastrňák taking over the leadership role.
The captaincy adds another layer to what should be a significant season for Pastrňák and the Bruins. With the preseason behind them, the focus now shifts from evaluating the roster to putting it to work when the games begin to count.
McAvoy and Poitras Start on the Sidelines – While Charlie McAvoy is included on the roster, he will not be available for the beginning of the regular season as he serves a six-game suspension. His absence means Boston will have to navigate the opening stretch of the season without one of its top defensemen.
Matthew Poitras is also listed on injured reserve and will not be available to begin the season. His absence leaves another opening in the lineup as Boston prepares to begin the regular season.
Now, the Games Count – Four preseason games gave the Bruins an opportunity to evaluate their lineup, test their younger players and get the group ready for the season ahead. Now, those evaluations are finished and the roster is set.
The Bruins will open the 2026-27 regular season against the New York Rangers at TD Garden on September 29. After weeks of training camp and preseason hockey, Boston is finally ready for the puck to drop on a new season.
