Bruins' Second Line Sparks Win Over Wild

Pavel Zacha and Elias Lindholm each score twice as Boston takes down Minnesota

Mar. 29, 2026 at 5:34am

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The Boston Bruins defeated the Minnesota Wild 6-3 on Saturday, with the second line of Pavel Zacha, Viktor Arvidsson, and Casey Mittelstadt accounting for three of the team's six goals. Zacha scored twice, Arvidsson added a goal, and Mittelstadt recorded three assists as the Bruins put together a complete 60-minute effort to pick up a crucial two points in the playoff race.

Why it matters

The Bruins' second line has been a key factor in the team's recent success, providing secondary scoring to complement the production of the top line. With the Eastern Conference playoff race tightening, these types of team efforts will be crucial down the stretch as Boston looks to secure a postseason berth.

The details

The Bruins jumped out to an early lead, with Andrew Peeke scoring just 61 seconds into the game. Pavel Zacha then netted two goals, while Elias Lindholm and Viktor Arvidsson also found the back of the net. Jeremy Swayman made 32 saves in the victory. The second line's strong performance, which included three points from Casey Mittelstadt, was a major factor in the Bruins' well-rounded effort.

  • The Bruins scored the opening goal just 61 seconds into the game.
  • Pavel Zacha scored his team-leading 10th and 11th goals since the Olympic break.
  • Viktor Arvidsson scored his seventh goal in the same span.

The players

Pavel Zacha

A forward for the Boston Bruins who scored two goals in the win over the Minnesota Wild.

Elias Lindholm

A forward for the Boston Bruins who also scored two goals in the victory.

Casey Mittelstadt

A forward for the Boston Bruins who recorded three assists, helping set up Zacha's two goals and Lindholm's empty-net tally.

Jeremy Swayman

The goaltender for the Boston Bruins who made 32 saves in the win.

Marco Sturm

An assistant coach for the Boston Bruins who praised the team's well-rounded effort and the performance of the second line.

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What they’re saying

“Felt good for 60 minutes. Felt good. Our first shift, right away. Our guys did a really good job.”

— Marco Sturm, Assistant Coach

“Every line brought something to the table, that could be a fight, could be assists, could be goals, whatever it is. [Swayman] in net, outstanding again. So that's who we are, and that's what I like the most.”

— Marco Sturm, Assistant Coach

“I just think, you know, [Arvidsson] and Casey [Mittelstadt] are looking for me there, a lot. They made a great two passes today, even Casey, the shot, he saw me net-front alone, and he fired the puck there. Those are the things that start to click more and more every game and, you know, as long as we can help the team win games, score a couple of goals as a line, it's going to be a success.”

— Pavel Zacha, Forward

“For me, the pressure is off one line. I really like [Lindholm]'s line. All of a sudden, he comes more to shine, too. I think Lukas does an excellent job, maybe not on the scoresheet, but he creates a lot of room for them. So it's time to breathe. And it's not just dump and chase. They're keeping pucks, and they're comfortable.”

— Marco Sturm, Assistant Coach

“You can look at the standings. That's going to make you focus up and dialed in. Every single play matters now, especially [as] the games keep coming and we'll be getting to single-digit numbers now for the rest of the year. So we have to remain focused and make it hard for the other team, because when we play like that, and we try to frustrate the other team, usually most of the times we come up on the top. So just have to remain focused.”

— David Pastrnak

What’s next

The Bruins will look to build on this win when they face the Blue Jackets on Sunday night in a key matchup between two teams fighting for playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference.

The takeaway

The Bruins' second line has emerged as a crucial part of the team's success during the playoff push, providing secondary scoring and complementing the production of the top line. This well-rounded effort, combined with strong goaltending from Jeremy Swayman, has the Bruins in a good position to secure a postseason berth as the regular season winds down.