Bruins Surge at Olympic Break Despite Penalty Woes

Boston's top players shine, but special teams struggles threaten playoff push

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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The Boston Bruins have positioned themselves in the playoff picture at the Olympic break, with several key factors contributing to their success so far this season. David Pastrnak's continued offensive dominance, the emergence of young players like Morgan Geekie and Fraser Minten, and improved 5-on-5 play under new coach Marco Sturm have all been positives. However, the team's struggles on the penalty kill and their league-leading number of penalties taken remain areas of concern as they look to secure a postseason berth.

Why it matters

The Bruins' performance at the Olympic break is crucial, as they look to build on last season's playoff appearance and solidify their position in the competitive Atlantic Division. Their ability to address their special teams issues could be the difference between a successful season and an early exit.

The details

David Pastrnak has continued his scoring prowess, posting 71 points in 52 games, while Morgan Geekie has emerged as a goal-scoring threat with 32 goals. The Bruins have also received strong contributions from younger players like Fraser Minten and Marat Khusnutdinov, who have been given opportunities by new coach Marco Sturm. However, the team's struggles on the penalty kill, where they rank 28th in the league, and their league-leading 286 penalties taken, have been a significant concern.

  • The Bruins have had two separate six-game losing streaks this season, in October and December, but have responded each time by going 8-1-0 in their next nine games.
  • The Bruins' power play has improved significantly this season, scoring nine more goals than they did all of last season, and now ranks third in the league.

The players

David Pastrnak

The Bruins' best player, Pastrnak has posted 100-point seasons in each of the last three years and has 71 points in 52 games this season.

Morgan Geekie

Geekie leads the Bruins with 32 goals and has signed a six-year extension with a $5.5 million cap hit.

Marco Sturm

The Bruins' new head coach, Sturm has established a defined 5-on-5 structure and has trusted younger players like Fraser Minten and Marat Khusnutdinov.

Fraser Minten

The 21-year-old Minten has 29 points and a plus-18 rating, leading all Bruins forwards, and was named the NHL's Rookie of the Month in January.

Marat Khusnutdinov

The 23-year-old Khusnutdinov has emerged as an NHL presence this season, playing on all four lines and scoring his first multi-goal game in January.

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What they’re saying

“I like to make plays. Growing up, I was more of a playmaker, and then, in the NHL, it flipped a little bit. I like to score goals, don't get me wrong, but most of the time, if I see somebody in a better position than me to score, then I always try to pass.”

— David Pastrnak (bostonhockeynow.com)

“The way we played, I thought it was really, really good; very consistent, very hard, structured. Our best players were our best players: David was outstanding, goalies were back to business. A lot of good things happened, especially at home. We feel very comfortable at home.”

— Marco Sturm, Head Coach (bostonhockeynow.com)

What’s next

The Bruins will look to continue their strong play when they return from the Olympic break, with 25 games remaining in the regular season. Their ability to address their penalty issues and maintain their success on the power play will be crucial as they push for a playoff spot.

The takeaway

Despite their penalty troubles, the Bruins have positioned themselves well at the Olympic break, thanks to the continued excellence of their top players and the positive impact of their new coaching staff. If they can shore up their special teams, they could be a force to be reckoned with in the second half of the season.