Red Wings at Bruins

The Detroit Red Wings represent the third recent opponent coming into TD Garden to face the Boston Bruins on the second of back-to-back games. The Bruins are 2-0-0 so far, having taken appropriate advantage of the Calgary Flames and Pittsburgh Penguins.

Can they do it against the resurgent Red Wings, who have won four in a row, are 7-2-1 in their last 10 and lead the Atlantic Division (in points if not points pct. – Tampa Bay)? We’ll soon find out, but the Bruins need to take what the schedule makers have given them in 2026. It was a difficult fall season, the Bruins always having played more in general and more at home in particular, the Olympic-season schedule being slightly heavier for them than almost all meaningful rivals.

Things are balancing out, but the Bruins are not out of it. This isn’t like the referee that calls every ticky-tack thing against your team, then makes up for it stat-sheet wise — but the damage has been done.

Bottom line: The Bruins have been resilient enough to be playing meaningful hockey amidst more injuries that have challenged their defensive core in particular and taxed overachievers like Andrew Peeke and Jonathan Aspirot. Most of the Bruins are fair and positive versions of their hockey selves at this point, and tonight presents another opportunity to hold serve, take the two points that are so badly needed, and make next month’s hockey equally meaningful.

FIRST PERIOD

Cam Talbot for Detroit against Jeremy Swayman for Boston.

The Bruins don’t want to give the Red Wings a chance to find their legs without incurring some scoreboard damage, but so far it’s only a 7-2 shots advantage through the game’s first 8:06.

David Pastrnak took a smack in the face and got a pat on the backside from an official as he got up to skate to the Boston bench – maybe we can find out postgame what was said there.

Pastrnak later got away with a boarding of Detroit defenseman Simon Edvinsson behind the Wings’ net. A make-up non-call?

Finally, the Red Wings make a nifty zone entry with three touches, and the Bruins deny the opportunity, get over a small hiccup getting the puck out but eventually succeed.

Pastrnak blasts a shot from the right circle that Talbot stops but cannot control. The Bruins are not getting bodies to the Detroit net quite as frequently as they had over the game’s first seven or so minutes.

Elias Lindholm off for tripping Alex DeBrincat, and the Wings put on a helluva delay-penalty exhibition. Swayman says no, but here comes the actual two minutes …

J.T. Compher is in alone with speed, and Swayman snares his shot with the catching glove to the approval of the TD Garden crowd.

Unit 2: The Red Wings work the puck to left-point man Axel Sandin-Pellikka – another glove save for Swayman, as shots are now 10-8 Boston.

The Bruins get the kill.

Viktor Arvidsson gets three straight shots at Talbot, but the journeyman half of Detroit’s tandem is looking very solid.

Detroit turns it up again, the top line of Copp, Patrick “500 goals” Kane and DeBrincat, this time against the third line of Fraser Minten, Alex Steeves and Morgan “Dad” Geekie, putting the Bruins back into penalty-kill mode at 5v5. Steeves had chances to take pucks or eliminate Red Wings but was able to do neither, revealing his lack of NHL experience (Detroit moves the puck at a higher-than-average level). Finally, Minten gets the puck and slides it back toward McAvoy but not before Swayman reaches out to intercept and choose D-zone faceoff to give the home team a much-needed reset.

Shots 13-10 Boston with 57.2 seconds left in the opening period.

We’re scoreless through one.

SECOND PERIOD

Ben Chiarot takes down Mark Kastelic at the Detroit net and goes off for interference at 2:35 of the second period. This is the Bruins’ first powerplay of the game.

No doubt the Bruins want to get Geekie back in the scoring column, and his rocket from the left circle grazes the post and goes out of play.

Even-strength hockey, and Geekie gets in cleanly off the right wing, pulls it back to his forehand and flips the puck into Talbot’s glove.

He’s had his chances.

Pavel Zacha takes a feed from Mason Lohrei and finds the spot, 1-0 Bruins.

Detroit responds, but Swayman is ready for DeBrincat’s blast from the left circle.

The Bruins have won 62% of their faceoffs. Dylan Larkin has only taken five, losing them all. Elias Lindholm is 11-5 on the dot and Kastelic is 5-1.

Shots through two are 25-22 Boston.

THIRD PERIOD

Pastrnak stickhandles his way into the goalcrease, goes down under Talbot, the net comes off its moorings, and a faceoff is called in the LW circle.

Arvidsson is feeling it, but Talbot stops both of his offerings, the second made possible by a nifty backhand outlet from Lohrei.

Pastrnak picks up a puck and it’s magic down the middle; all Minten has to do it tap the puck inside the left post. Hugh goal against a tiring Detroit squad.

Andrew Copp cuts in front, but his backhand sails wide – big miss. Copp cannot convert a second time on a goalmouth pass to the right post where he was camped out.

Red Wings Coach Todd McLellan has not opened up the game as Rink Rap would anticipate, perhaps believing his team can push again with half the third period remaining. At some point, though, forwards are going to fly the zone, and every outlet pass will become more volatile for or against. Stay tuned …

Pastrnak is held by Sandin-Pellikka, puts his arm up like he’s the official – and gets the call!

Bruins powerplay with 8:11 remaining in regulation, and they’re already pressing for a third goal here.

Big save on Zacha keeps Detroit alive, now McAvoy off for holding with 1:11 left on Sandin-Pellikka’s PIM. So 4v4, then a 49-second Detroit powerplay.

Swayman makes a point-blank stop on Patrick Kane, that’s on the 4v4. Now the Wings get their defenseman back and make the switch to a 5-on-4 powerplay.

Dylan Larkin, who doesn’t look like himself tonight, misses from the slot. Another shot rings the post, then Swayman swallows DeBrincat’s latest bid.

With 5:19 left on the game clock, the Bruins lead 2-0 and are back to even strength.

Kastelic slaps the puck into the empty net with 3:59 remaining.

It’s a longshot for the Red Wings to muster anything from here. Looks like four straight for the Bruins heading into Thursday’s 33-retirement night for the great Zdeno Chara.

Drive safely everyone.