Bruins Beat Devils in Game 82; Face Sabres in Round 1

Bruins Beat Devils in Game 82; Face Sabres in Round 1

BOSTON – The Boston Bruins (45-27-10) closed the 2025-26 regular season with a shutout win over the New Jersey Devils (42-37-3) on Tuesday night at the TD Garden.

Mark Kastelic (12) scored twice, while Morgan Geekie (39) and Viktor Arvidsson (25) each scored once. All four Bruins’ goals came in the first period.

Jeremy Swayman made 21 saves and recorded his second shutout of the season. He finished the season with a 31-18-4 record.

Ahead of the game, Fraser Minten was awarded the NESN 7th Player Award.

Then the Bruins erupted in the first 20 minutes.

Morgan Geekie opened the scoring just 53 seconds into the game, beating Nico Daws on a one-timer in the slot.

With an assist, David Pastrnak also hit the 100-point mark for the fourth consecutive season.

Six minutes later, the fourth line struck. Tanner Jeannot found Mark Kastelic outside of the crease, and he buried his second goal in as many games.

Kastelic was not done there, adding his second goal of the period 11 minutes later. Mason Lohrei intercepted a pass and played the puck to Sean Kuraly, who found Mark Kastelic. Kastelic beat Daws up high from the top of the crease.

Then, with 6.4 seconds left in the period, Viktor Arvidsson potted a feed from Pavel Zacha to extend the lead to 4-0.

The Bruins outshot the Devils 12-10 after the first period.

Zacha did not return to the game after the first period to tend to a family matter.

In the second period, James Hagens, who played in his first pro game at the TD Garden, introduced himself to Dougie Hamilton with an aggressive forecheck.

The Bruins outshot the Devils 9-5 in a scoreless second period.

The third period, like the second, featured no scoring.

Mikey Eyssimont appeared to score on a Mason Lohrei rebound, but Sheldon Keefe challenged for offside, wiping it off the board and keeping the game at 4-0.

With the win, the Bruins locked in the top wild card spot and will face the Buffalo Sabres (50-23-8) in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Bruins went 3-1-0 against the Sabres this season, but two of those wins came in October. The Sabres have been the league’s best team since Jarmo Kekalainen took over as general manager, going 36-9-4 since December 15.

Their last meeting was on March 25, when the Bruins came back late and picked up an overtime win on the road.

FOLLOW @JACKSTUDLEY13 ON 𝕏| FOLLOW @BOSHockeyNow ON 𝕏

The post Bruins Beat Devils in Game 82; Face Sabres in Round 1 appeared first on Boston Hockey Now.