Bruins second line continues to show up, build chemistry

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Bruins second line continues to show up, build chemistry

Lauren Campbell · MassLive

Fri, Jan 16, 2026 ·

2 min read

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BOSTON — While Morgan Geekie and David Pastrnak lead the Bruins in goals with 25 and 20, respectively, the second line of Casey Mittelstadt , Pavel Zacha and Viktor Arvidsson has been showing strong chemistry.

That trend continued Thursday in Boston's 4-2 win over the Seattle Kraken . Arvidsson scored the Bruins ' second goal in the first period.

Coach Marco Sturm has found something in the trio. Despite dealing with injuries to Mittelstadt and Arvidsson at points during the season, they were able to pick up where they left off.

"We're healthy, and we're really skating and helping each other, finding each other with close passes," Arvidsson said after the game. "I think we're really connected and just having fun out there."

After playing a mix of center and wing since coming to the Bruins, Zacha has carved out a role as a center — something Sturm saw early on.

"That was no question in my mind, this is a centerman for me. That's why I never really moved him," the coach said earlier this month. "I'm a big believer that he gives us his best hockey game, or his best performance as a centerman."

After an ugly five-game road trip to end 2025 that included three losses, the Bruins rattled off five straight wins during their homestand. They now embark on a two-game road trip beginning Saturday against the Chicago Blackhawks .

"I feel like all the teams are winning right now, and we're doing the same," Arvidsson said. "So, it's a race now and we gotta go on the road and take care of same games.

"You gotta play the same way at home and on the road," he later added. "I know that's easy to say, but, it's just how it is. I think we just gotta realize how we gotta play, just go from there."

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