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Bruins Postgame: Life Without McAvoy Wasn’t So Bad
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- Bruins Postgame: Life Without McAvoy Wasn’t So Bad
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Boston Bruins got by without their top defenseman.
The Bruins (4-2-0) soundly beat the Philadelphia Flyers (0-4-2) on Saturday afternoon. Pavel Zacha , Mason Lohrei , Marat Khusnutdinov , Casey Mittelstadt , and Fraser Minten each scored in the 5-1 win, while Jeremy Swayman added 14 saves in his fourth win of the season.
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"We came out with a really good jump," head coach Marco Sturm said postgame. "They've been struggling a little bit, Philly, but they also could be very, very dangerous. So our goal was just to come out and really play our game, right away, as soon as possible. And yeah, it helps when the big boys do that too, right from the start as well."
The ice was tilted from the start. The Bruins were all over the Flyers, but only had one goal to show for it after 20 minutes. The Bruins finished the game with a 61-32 advantage in shots attempted, per Natural Stat Trick . They also limited the Flyers to three shots on goal after 20, eight after 40, and 15 after 60.
"Yeah, we just wanted to be smarter a little bit in every area, or every zone, I would say in our game. Starting in our o-zone, protecting and have more of the puck in the offensive zone, but also coming back," Sturm said. "We had to do a better job protecting more of the middle of the ice, and those are the teams right now, the ones we played, Utah and especially Philly – maybe not tonight – but they like the long game. They like to stretch us out. So it's sometimes tough. But if we have numbers, we do a much better job."
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The Bruins were much better defensively than they were in Thursday's win. The Mammoth had 37 shots on Jeremy Swayman, including 17 in the first period; the Flyers did not hit 17 in 60 minutes. Utah also finished with 5.72 expected goals, while the Flyers only finished with 1.08.
Fraser Minten finished with three points in his second multi-point game of the season. It took him 15 games to post five points last year, and in his second full year with the Bruins, it only took six.
"Yeah, probably," Minten said when asked if he feels more patient with the puck in year two. "It would be hard to say exactly how, but [I] feel good out there. Feel fast, feel like I can make plays and contribute while still being good and responsible defensively. So I feel like the game's growing for sure."
"Just trying to continue to improve and help the team out, and if that means making some more plays, then I'll try to do that."
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For the second game in a row, Mason Lohrei found the back of the net. The 25-year-old defenseman said after the game that he feels he's at his best when he's playing with confidence, and he led Bruins defensemen with two goals in Charlie McAvoy 's absence.
"I'm at my best when I'm playing with confidence and [it's] something that I try and do and I've been feeling pretty good, so I'll just continue to try and do that."
Also Read: Bruins Face Tough Decision as Charlie McAvoy Nears Return from Suspension
"Not the biggest, but it's part of our game, or I want it to be part of our game," Marco Sturm said about the defensemen contributing offensively. "Because if I look at some other teams who always, the ones who give us headaches are the ones who activate the D. And I feel like, in the past, we just didn't do it enough. And maybe we didn't have the personnel for it, I don't know. But I think this year it's a little bit different, or it feels different."
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After practice on Friday, Lohrei mentioned how he enjoys working with new assistant coach Matt McIlvane .
Mason Lohrei on how he has played through the first five games:
"Just trying to play my game and play with confidence every night. I've felt pretty good so far. There's always things to clean up and things to improve upon, but, I'm working with Matt (McIlvane) every day just… pic.twitter.com/c5SYzJDPux— Jack Studley (@jackstudley13) October 9, 2026
McIlvane, also an Ohio State alum, took over the defense corps this season in Boston. He replaced Jay Leach , who was let go after the season.
McIlvane and the Bruins defense will get some help when they land in San Jose for the start of their four-game road trip. Charlie McAvoy's suspension is over, and he is set to return to the lineup when the Bruins play the Sharks on Tuesday night.
"Yeah, finally. Can't wait to have him back. I mean, what an addition that's going to be six games in here," Mason Lohrei said. "He's coming in fresh, and I know he's ready to go, so looking forward to watching some special stuff from him."
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Marco Sturm knew the Bruins were going to be challenged without their top defenseman, calling the six-game stretch a "tough schedule" against "tough teams." The Bruins weathered the storm, and Sturm added that he was "very happy" with the 4-2-0 record.
"Doesn't mean we can relax now because Charlie's back. No," Sturm said. "But we also know how tough this road trip will be. So it's definitely good, and we feel good going to the trip and on the plane tomorrow having two good wins."
The Bruins have a decision to make as to which defenseman comes out of the lineup when McAvoy returns. It will not be an easy choice for Marco Sturm. Lohrei is tied for the points lead among Bruins defensemen, but he was not the one Sturm was surprised with through the first six games.
"I think Brunet was the surprise, I would say. I mean, he had a good camp, and we didn't really know how [much of a] fit fully he would be," Sturm said. "And he took charge, so I'm really happy about that. And also on the power play, that means a lot to be on the first unit. Not everyone can do that."
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The Bruins will not practice on Sunday. They will travel to California and practice on Monday in San Jose. They start a four-game road trip late on Tuesday night, and they will return home for a game the following Thursday against Nashville.
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