BOSTON — It was not just that the Boston Bruins won on Saturday, 2-1. They beat the Carolina Hurricanes, a Stanley Cup contender. They limited the Hurricanes, who shoot from the minute they roll out of bed, to 29 shots, their second-lowest sum of 2025-26. According to Natural Stat Trick, the Bruins allowed 1.82 expected five-on-five goals, less than half of the 3.76 xGA they ceded to the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday.
So by the eye test, the numbers and just about everything else, the Bruins submitted their sharpest defensive effort of the season. It was a 180-degree reversal from their six-game losing streak, and even within some of their wins.
“It has to be our strong suit. Because that’s the kind of team we have,” said Charlie McAvoy (two assists, three blocked shots, 24:09 of ice time). “I think that was why that was most frustrating when we were going through that pocket. We were defending poorly. That has to be our strength.”
The Bruins have won three straight. They are 7-7-0.
But the nature of Saturday’s two points was what pleased them the most. The outcome was never in doubt. They had never checked better all year.
“That was probably our best game structure-wise, especially against a really good team,” said Casey Mittelstadt (goal and assist). “They’re coming in hot. They’ve scored a lot of goals this year. We shut them down, which was good.”
Casey Mittelstadt breaks the ice in Boston 🐻 pic.twitter.com/nC9I1w1WyA
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 1, 2025
The only blemish was a contested one. At 17:11 of the third period, during a delayed high-sticking call on David Pastrnak, Alexander Nikishin beat Jeremy Swayman with a slap shot. The Bruins argued they had gained possession of the puck prior to the goal, which should have put Carolina on the power play.
Despite the Hurricanes’ rally, the Bruins stayed in command the rest of the game. They did not stray from their structure. Their forecheck arrived on time. They limited Carolina’s center-ice speed. In the defensive zone, the Bruins reduced the Hurricanes’ time up high with smothering man-to-man coverage. Around the net, the Bruins had layers.
“The little details we had today were outstanding,” said coach Marco Sturm. “Coming back in our zone. Stopping. Protecting the middle of the ice. Closing in the D-zone. Little things we’ve worked on a lot and showed the last 10 days. You can see what the guys are trying to do. Now the guys slowly get it too, the way we have to play and want to play.”
McAvoy and Nikita Zadorov led the charge. The top pair, formed following the Oct. 28 healthy scratch of Mason Lohrei, was a handful in the defensive zone. They had quick feet, good sticks and punishing physicality. In the third, McAvoy was up the ice to find Mittelstadt on the far post for the team’s first goal.
Zadorov, meanwhile, was wiping out bodies all game. In the third, the left-shot defenseman stalled Seth Jarvis’ partial breakaway, then sent the No. 1 right wing into the boards.
“Just a man’s game,” McAvoy said of his partner. “He’s able to physically dominate guys, which I think is his superpower. He has that size and he uses it in such a way. It’s trust. I’ve got to be in the right spot for him. Same, him with me. He’s been around for a long time. He’s one of those guys; he gets his juices flowing when he gets to play against the best guys on the other team. That’s the same with me. We get excited at that opportunity and the chance to do that.”
It was not just the top dogs. Jonathan Aspirot has played in three straight games after making his NHL debut on Oct. 28 against the New York Islanders. The undrafted defenseman has earned his keep by closing quickly, being dependable and holding his ground. The 26-year-old had two hits and two blocks in 15:18 of play.
“He just fits in perfectly because he closes, has a good stick, he’s quick,” said Sturm. “That solves a lot of problems and issues. When you have that as a forward, they must love it. When you have a D like that who can close right away like he does, that’s a plus. That’s why he’s never really in trouble.”
Lohrei has now been a healthy scratch for three straight games. Given how the Bruins defended, Lohrei may be out again on Tuesday against the Islanders.
“He should be pissed. He should be very pissed,” said Sturm. “He should be upset. He works hard in practice. He’s ready. He just waits for his opportunities. That’s the goal. Having him out there and being a little bit different when he comes back. Watching from upstairs, watching some other players, what they do well and what they do wrong, too, it’s a learning process for him right now. That’s why we do it. When it’s his turn, we’re hoping he’s going to get better.”
