There is no reasonable doubt that the Boston Bruins are headed for the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs, which is quite a comeback story and a lesson for teams that think full-out tank is the way to go. A trade-deadline tank is one thing, shutting down aching players – season-ticket holders be damned – but theContinue reading “Bolts at Bruins: Clinch or Back in”
Author Archives: Mick Colageo
Stars at Bruins
The Boston Bruins don’t want to try to be a team that finds itself chasing the game, and through 20 minutes of tonight’s follow-up to a gutsy, two-win weekend against the Dallas Stars they haven’t looked like that easily satisfied team from earlier in the season. The Stars are a Stanley Cup contender, albeit aContinue reading “Stars at Bruins”
Wild at Bruins
The weekend’s two-in-two – home today against Minnesota and tomorrow at Columbus – brings an AHL flavor to the NHL’s stretch run toward the playoffs. The Wild (41-20-12=94) are tuning up while constantly being reminded of the unfair Stanley Cup tournament format that will pit their top-five-in-the-league record against Dallas in the Central Division’s 2-3Continue reading “Wild at Bruins”
Kings at Bruins
The Los Angeles Kings are not waiving the white flag on the 2025-26 NHL season, despite going 3-6-1 in their last 10. Most recently, the Kings won in Columbus, and arrive at TD Garden with the number 8 in common with the Bruins. That commonality is LA’s number of regulation road losses and Boston’s numberContinue reading “Kings at Bruins”
Caps at Bruins
After all the hype, reports and speculation, this is the same Boston Bruins team as it was prior to Friday’s trade deadline, as General Manager Don Sweeney simply found the prices of roster upgrade to be too intrusive to his long-range program. The one player Rink Rap would have allowed to take a serious biteContinue reading “Caps at Bruins”
Penguins at Bruins
Rare is the night when the Pittsburgh Penguins don’t have Sidney Crosby in their lineup and start Evgeni Malkin at left wing, but that’s the state of the franchise amidst a surprise campaign that has Pittsburgh in second place in the Metro Division and looking like a 2025-26 playoff team. But, less than 72 hoursContinue reading “Penguins at Bruins”
Sweeney: Bruins may buy, but they won’t rent
Don Sweeney has been consistent in his win-now/win-later approach toward managing the Boston Bruins roster over his decade as general manager so, by 3 p.m. Friday, will the Bruins be… … or? Sorry not sorry. As much as Sweeney has been diligent in contrasting this deadline from last year’s when he used a seller’s marketContinue reading “Sweeney: Bruins may buy, but they won’t rent”
Blue Jackets at Bruins
The Boston Bruins are back … well, almost all of them. Jeremy Swayman became the latest asterisk to the 2025-26 season when he was place on Injured Reserve, necessitating the recall of Michael DiPietro from Providence (AHL). So Joonas Korpisalo got the first start since the Olympic break, as the Bruins faced a Columbus teamContinue reading “Blue Jackets at Bruins”
McAvoy, Bruins no worse for wear
The hockey that the Boston Bruins are about to play cannot compare to the electrifying version of the sport that we just witnessed in northern Italy, especially over the weekend as the Team USA women, then men, defeated Canada in sudden-death overtime to win gold. Nonetheless, henceforth begins the definitive stretch of hockey that theContinue reading “McAvoy, Bruins no worse for wear”
Reflections on Bruins’ fumble
When I used to sit at my desk in the northwest corner of the house my father built in East Walpole, Mass., drawing my pictures of the old Boston Garden, imaginary expansions thereof, Fenway Park, the old Foxboro (then Schaefer Stadium), Bruins tickets (I was good at it – the one time my work wasContinue reading “Reflections on Bruins’ fumble”
Rink Rap with Mick Colageo 