Copyright yardbarker
Through the start of the season, Geekie has certainly more than earned that contract extension and that was on display against the Senators. Besides his opening goal, he also had several additional shots and was a consistent presence on the ice. In total, he currently has seven goals and nine points in 11 games, putting him on pace for 50 goals this season if he can maintain this scoring clip. Bruins Are Their Own Worst Enemy Penalties have been a consistent issue for the Bruins through the start of the season, and that was on full display against the Senators. In the first period, both Mikey Eyssimont and Mark Kastelic took minor penalties, the first leading to a goal by Drake Batherson to tie the game up a few minutes before intermission. In the third period, Charlie McAvoy took two penalties that both led to goals by Ottawa. Overall, Boston allowed four power play goals. Outside of taking too penalties, this game had many other moments where the Bruins didn’t do themselves any favors. They had a bad changes that gave the Senators breakaways, lapsed coverage in their own zone, struggles to clear the puck, sloppy passes, and in the second period, it took them nine minutes to get their first shot off. These are all little things, but they start to add up and so far in this early season, are proving to be difference makers in close games. They can’t score if they’re not shooting, can’t give Jeremy Swayman a chance to make a save if they’re giving opponents too many breakaways, and aren’t doing themselves any favors when they’re playing a man down on the penalty kill. Despite what the final score may indicate, the Bruins didn’t look completely awful against the Senators (at least until the third period). But the difference maker between winning and losing teams is not making the little mistakes. Right now, that is one of the things the team is struggling to do and it shows in their 4 – 7 – 0 record. Hampus Lindholm’s Absence Felt The Bruins continue to feel the absence of Hampus Lindholm on the blue line as he’s missed seven of the last eight games with a lower body injury. He continues to be listed as day-to-day as both camps seem to be cautious with bringing him back. He missed the majority of last season with a broken knee cap, and his absence was heavily felt by the team in 2024-25. His return was a big factor for the defense this season and clearly something GM Don Sweeney was counting on given that they made no big change to the blue line despite an overall disappointing performance last season.
