Bruins Return to Ice After Olympic Break

Boston will host the Blue Jackets on Feb. 26 for its first game back

Feb. 22, 2026 at 10:55pm

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The Boston Bruins returned to practice on Wednesday at Warrior Ice Arena after a two-week break due to the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Head coach Marco Sturm said the team is treating the return to practice like a training camp, with plans to continue working on various areas of their game. Several Bruins players, including Charlie McAvoy, Jeremy Swayman, Henri Jokiharju, Joonas Korpisalo, Elias Lindholm, Hampus Lindholm, and David Pastrnak, are currently participating in the Olympics in Milan, Italy.

Why it matters

The Bruins are looking to pick up where they left off before the Olympic break, as they sit atop the Atlantic Division with a 37-16-4 record through 57 games. The team is hoping to use the practice time to recharge and refocus ahead of their first game back on Feb. 26 against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The details

During Wednesday's practice, the Bruins focused on getting back into the swing of things after the break. Forward Morgan Geekie, who entered the break on an eight-game point streak, said he used the time off to recharge both physically and mentally. Geekie, who leads the team with 32 goals this season, spent time with his family in Florida and has also been watching the Olympics, particularly enjoying the figure skating events with his daughter.

  • The Bruins returned to practice on Wednesday, February 22, 2026.
  • Boston will host the Columbus Blue Jackets on February 26, 2026 for its first game back from the Olympic break.

The players

Marco Sturm

Head coach of the Boston Bruins.

Charlie McAvoy

Bruins defenseman representing the United States in the 2026 Olympic Winter Games.

Jeremy Swayman

Bruins goaltender representing the United States in the 2026 Olympic Winter Games.

Morgan Geekie

Bruins forward who entered the Olympic break on an eight-game point streak, leading the team with 32 goals this season.

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What they’re saying

“We want to treat it like training camp. For a first practice, I thought it was good. And tomorrow we're going to continue that. We're going to touch on some other areas of our game and go from there.”

— Marco Sturm, Head coach (nhl.com)

“Obviously, with the condensed schedule, guys get kind of banged up and things kind of weigh on you throughout the first part of the season. I just recharged and used it as a mental break more than anything. Just come back ready to go.”

— Morgan Geekie, Forward (nhl.com)

“My daughter doesn't get to watch TV very often, but we have the Olympics on. It is cool to see her ask what every other sport is. Being Canadian, I'm sure curling is a little easier to get across. She loves figure skating, things like that. We've paid a lot of attention to that. My wife loves the figure skating, too. I've watched more this year than I have in my whole life.”

— Morgan Geekie, Forward (nhl.com)

What’s next

The Bruins will continue their preparations for their first game back on February 26 against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The takeaway

The Bruins are using the Olympic break as an opportunity to recharge and refocus, with the goal of picking up where they left off before the break as they look to maintain their position atop the Atlantic Division.