Regardless of Success, This is the Team Bruins Fans Love

Boston Bruins Team President Cam Neely called it “piss and vinegar”. Some others might call it “jam” or “being hard to play against”. Whatever the label for this edition of the Bruins, the early returns show a team constructed to make NHL clubs circle the Bruins on the calendar as a physical, heavy, and grinding opponent. All of those adjectives are exactly what will endear this team to its own fans.

Wednesday’s season-opening win at the Washington Capitals featured the top line of Morgan Geekie, Elias Lindholm, and David Pastrnak, while surprising depth scoring, grit, and passion helped the Bruins slide past the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3 in overtime in the home opener. It is only two games, but Bruins fans were fully engaged in the first game of the season at TD Garden and already loving the nastiness and togetherness on display. From Nikita Zadorov cross-checking Blackhawks young star Frank Nazar to Sean Kuraly driving Andre Burakovsky into the ice, this is what Bruins fans want.

“We all wanted to do well, but it turns out it was not the flow we probably wanted. All of a sudden, we got into a little bit of a grinding game,” Sturm said after Thursday’s victory. “Those are the games you have to win. … Those grinding games will help bring us together as a team.”

Four different Bruins scored Thursday, including 21-year-old Fraser Minten with a snipe off a 2-on-1 in overtime and Bruins’ forward Tanner Jeannot, fresh off his new five-year contract, with a second-period goal at the net with grease. Boston totaled an uncharacteristic 33 shots on goal but also outhit the smaller Blackhawks 25-10 and blocked 16 shots. This was the type of effort that blue-collar Boston fans love.

Sprinkled into the mix was some young talent and a goal for Minten, who was acquired in a trade last season for longtime defenseman Brandon Carlo. The Bruins need youthful skill, and Minten is a key member of this Bruins team.

“It’s nice to come in and play (in the NHL environment) right away,” Minten said. “Obviously, (the top line) gets paid the big bucks to (score), but all of us want to help, too. … There’s no reason every line can’t contribute.”

Bruins fans will pay “big bucks” to watch this product, which is much different than last season’s disappointing group, which saw former captain Brad Marchand traded away and a once-promising season turn into a top ten draft pick. In some ways, Bruins fans would rather see a hard-hitting, hard-working team than an inconsistent, skilled team. With this 2025-26 Bruins team, they might have their wish.