“When I think about how great those teams were, and how we surpassed that total, it’s significant. Because those were dominant hockey teams,” Boston coach Jim Montgomery said.
“Dominant” might not do justice to the Bruins’ performance this season. They outpaced opponents in the standings with nary a losing streak. They won at home, on the road, in the East and in the West. Backed by the league’s best goaltending, they were clearly the NHL’s top defensive team. Led by 60-goal scorer David Pastrnak and unparalleled depth, they were almost the NHL’s top offensive team, as well.
These data visualizations illustrate how the Bruins steamrolled the NHL this season on their way to history.
Boston vs. everyone
It’s a distant memory now, but the Bruins were expected to struggle at the start of the season. Getting used to a new coach. Missing injured stars Brad Marchand and Charlie McAvoy. But instead of stumbling out of the gate, Boston sprinted to a 20-3-0 start and set an NHL record by winning its first 14 home games.
The Bruins had consecutive regulation losses only once. Their longest winless streak was three games, also happening only once. With the postseason never in doubt, Boston still dashed to the finish line by winning 26 of its last 30 games.
“Being able to stay focused and learn how to win when chasing records is the closest thing you can do, when you’re having a season like us, to prepare for the playoffs,” Montgomery said.
Everything everywhere all at wins
No matter the time, place or opponent, the Bruins beat everybody this season.
Boston tied the NHL record for road wins in a season (31), shared with the 2005-06 Detroit Red Wings. It also set franchise records for road wins and home wins (34) during its record-breaking season.
The B’s bullied the Western Conference on the road this season, as 14 of its 16 teams failed to register a victory when Boston visited. The only teams that did, quite inexplicably: the Arizona Coyotes and Chicago Blackhawks, both currently tabulating their lottery odds.
Marchand once offered some advice to teammate Pastrnak: Always aim for 10 goals higher than you think you can score.
“I was aiming for 60 this season,” Pastrnak said. “I wasn’t really thinking I could get there.”
He got there, setting career bests for goals and points. Winger Jake DeBrusk, center Pavel Zacha, and defensemen Hampus Lindholm and Matt Grzelcyk also reached career highs, as the Bruins finished second to the Edmonton Oilers in goals-per-game average. Boston had 12 players score at least 30 points on the season.
Boston’s scoring depth isn’t coincidental. Captain Patrice Bergeron said it’s a byproduct of the camaraderie and chemistry that defines these Bruins. Everyone gets their time to shine.
“We want to make sure everyone is valued and bringing their best,” he said. “It’s someone stepping up every night, and it’s great to see.”
Boston’s ‘elite consistency’ in save percentage
Goalies Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman famously celebrate Bruins victories with an exaggerated hug on the ice. Here’s another reason for them to celebrate: They’ve won the Jennings Trophy as the NHL goalies with the lowest goals-per-game average for their team.
“It’s such a special relationship. To see it translate on the ice for both of us is very special,” Swayman said. “There’s no one I’ll ever meet like him again. I’m just enjoying the ride.”
Montgomery has referred to goaltender Ullmark’s “elite consistency” this season, which is an apt way to describe a goaltender who won 40 games and led the league in save percentage and goals-against average. Between him and Swayman, Boston’s net is very protected, no matter where opponents shoot.
Eldridge, a 20-year-old first baseman who was No. 29 in the latest prospect rankings by ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel, will seemingly fill the role vacated by fellow left-handed hitter Dominic Smith, who went on the injured list because of a hamstring strain over the weekend.
The 16th pick out of high school in 2023, Eldridge surged in Double-A at the start of the season and was slashing .249/.322/.514 with 18 homers, 88 strikeouts and 28 walks for the Giants’ Triple-A affiliate. His strikeout rate remained high of late, but his production improved over these past 17 games, during which he boasted a .294 batting average with 10 extra-base hits.
The Giants were using Rafael Devers at first base and designated hitter, with Smith and the right-handed-hitting Wilmer Flores essentially platooning at the other spot. Eldridge will be playoff eligible.
After acquiring Devers in the middle of June, the Giants went 13-22 heading into the trade deadline at the end of July, prompting the front office to deal veteran players. As of Aug. 22, the Giants were seven games below .500 and 7½ games out of the final National League wild-card spot, but they have since won 14 of 20 games and trail the slumping New York Mets by only 1½ games with 13 remaining.
Soroka will be used as a reliever. The Cubs acquired Soroka from Washington at the trade deadline and planned to use him as a starter.
However, Soroka pitched just two innings in his Cubs debut against Cincinnati on Aug. 4 and left because of a right shoulder strain. Soroka made a rehab appearance with Triple-A Iowa and allowed one run in 2⅓ innings.
Soroka is 3-8 this season with a 4.86 ERA in 17 starts.
Right-hander Ben Brown was optioned to Iowa in a corresponding move. He is 5-8 with a 5.92 ERA in 25 games, including 15 starts.
Cubs closer Daniel Palencia threw off the mound for the first time since going on the IL on Sept. 8 because of a right shoulder strain. He has converted 22 of 25 save opportunities and has a 3.00 ERA in 52 games.
Designated hitter Seiya Suzuki was not in the lineup Monday because of bronchitis.
The Cubs hold the first wild-card position in the National League.
ESPN baseball reporter. Covered the L.A. Rams for ESPN from 2016 to 2018 and the L.A. Angels for MLB.com from 2012 to 2016.
The San Francisco Giants, suddenly back in the playoff race with two weeks remaining in the regular season, are calling up top prospectBryce Eldrige, a source confirmed to ESPN on Monday.
Eldridge, a 20-year-old first baseman who was No. 29 in the latest prospect rankings by ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel, will seemingly take on the role vacated by fellow left-handed hitter Dominic Smith, who went on the injured list with a hamstring strain over the weekend.
The 16th overall pick out of high school in 2023, Eldridge surged in Double-A at the start of the season and was slashing .249/.322/.514 with 18 homers, 88 strikeouts and 28 walks for the Giants’ Triple-A affiliate. His strikeout rate remained high of late, but his production improved over these past 17 games, during which he boasted a .294 batting average with 10 extra-base hits.
The Giants had been using Rafael Devers at both first base and designated hitter, with Smith and the right-handed-hitting Wilmer Flores essentially platooning at the other spot. Eldridge will seemingly take on Smith’s role for the stretch run, while hoping to push the Giants toward an unlikely playoff spot.
After acquiring Devers in the middle of June, the Giants went 13-22 heading into the trade deadline at the end of July, prompting the front office to deal veteran players. As of Aug. 22, the Giants were seven games below .500 and 7½ games out of the final wild-card spot, but they have since won 14 of 20 games and currently trail the slumping New York Mets by only 1½ games with 13 remaining.
The San Francisco Chronicle first reported Eldridge’s callup.