Bruins are fatigued mentally and physically, hoping break will be a reset

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Bruins are fatigued mentally and physically, hoping break will be a reset

Lauren Campbell · MassLive

Wed, Dec 24, 2025 ·

2 min read

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BOSTON — The Bruins ended their four-game homestand with a 0-3-1 record after a 6-2 loss to the Canadiens on Tuesday. They were outscored 13-4 in their last two games and let Tuesday’s game get away from them in the third period.

It’s not for lack of effort, though.

“Guys are trying. I can tell you that. They try,” coach Marco Sturm said after Boston’s 6-2 loss. “Trust me, they try. I can’t say it enough. Maybe with the score, it doesn’t look like that. It’s a good group, and they care.”

The 2025-26 schedule is a bit more challenging than in previous years due to the three-week Olympic break in February. Because of that, there are more games in the week.

But every team is dealing with the same workload when it comes to the schedule.

“We have to find a way to get out of this,” Sturm said.

The Bruins played a strong first and second period, but the third is when the wheels fell off and the game got away from them. Montreal scored four unanswered goals in a five-minute span as it outworked and outplayed its longtime rival.

“We have structure that we know works and it gave us success throughout the season,” David Pastrnak said after Tuesday’s game. “We have to get back to it before it’s too late. There’s lots of hockey left to be played, but at the same time we have to go back to the details, the structure that we know works.

“What I think is, it’s the mental fatigue,” he continued. “I’ve been seeing it in a couple of games. Sometimes that stuff happens leading into the break.”

The Bruins go into the three-day holiday break on a four-game losing streak. When they return, they embark on a five-game road trip that includes a trip to Western Canada.

“Anytime you can get a rest in this league, especially with a schedule like this, is huge,” Nikita Zadorov said. “I don’t think it’s only physical, I think it’s mental, as well. We still have a lot of belief in this room. We’re a good team, and we’re gonna do it.”

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