Boston Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov (91) controls the puck against Carolina Hurricanes left winger Taylor Hall (71) during the first period at Lenovo Center. James Guillory-Imagn Images

Watch: Brutal snapped stick loses critical game for Bruins

By Austen Bundy | Last updated Mar 6, 2025 10:31 PM ET

The Boston Bruins just can't seem to catch a break this season. After finishing as one of the best teams in the league last year, they're now struggling to stay in this year's playoff race.

Thursday night things went from bad to worse.

Tied 2-2 in the third period with the Carolina Hurricanes and with just seconds remaining until overtime, Boston defenseman Nikita Zadorov's stick snapped as he attempted to pass the puck across the defensive zone to his teammate.

Unfortunately for the Bruins, the puck found Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis who promptly buried it behind goaltender Joonas Korpisalo for the late 3-2 lead and eventual win.

THE STICK SNAPPED AND THE CANES WON pic.twitter.com/buu0BnldGQ
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 7, 2025

Boston currently sits seventh in the Atlantic Division (64 points) but is also only three points out from a wild-card playoff spot.

Just surviving to overtime would've provided the team with at least a crucial standings point in its postseason pursuit.

With just 18 games remaining in the regular season, the Bruins are running out of time to put together a late run. It was a brutal way to lose but sometimes the hockey gods can just be plain cruel.

Austen Bundy

Austen Bundy is a journalist and sports junkie from the Washington, D. C. area

More must-reads: