The Boston Bruins travel to the Prudential Center on April 8, 2025, looking to salvage a difficult season that has steadily slipped out of their control as the losses have mounted and their postseason hopes have dimmed. Sitting at 30-36-9, the Bruins find themselves well outside the playoff picture and struggling to maintain any consistent form, with defensive breakdowns, lackluster scoring depth, and injury woes all contributing to their decline. Despite those challenges, David Pastrnak continues to shine as one of the lone bright spots, leading the team with 86 points on 35 goals and 51 assists. His offensive production has kept the Bruins competitive in spurts, but he’s lacked consistent support from a lineup that hasn’t delivered enough secondary scoring. The Bruins average just 2.61 goals per game, a figure that reflects their inability to sustain offensive pressure and convert in high-leverage moments, especially when opponents tighten defensively. Their power play has been sporadic, occasionally dangerous with Pastrnak on the ice, but overall far less effective than in years past, which has limited their ability to come back from early deficits. Defensively, Boston’s woes have been exacerbated by the absence of cornerstone blueliners Hampus Lindholm and Charlie McAvoy, both out long-term with injuries. Without their top pairing, the Bruins have struggled to contain speed through the neutral zone and to recover in defensive breakdowns, leading to an average of 3.04 goals allowed per game.

Goaltender Jeremy Swayman has faced the brunt of the pressure, and while he’s had his moments, his goals-against average of 3.08 and .895 save percentage reflect the constant strain of playing behind an inexperienced and often overwhelmed defensive unit. On the road, the Bruins have not fared well, and facing a Devils team that beat them handily 5-1 back in January only reinforces the uphill battle they face in this matchup. The Bruins were outplayed in all phases of that game—outskated, outshot, and outworked—something head coach Jim Montgomery will certainly address as they prepare for this rematch. Boston’s path to redemption in Newark hinges on a committed team-wide defensive effort, discipline in their own end, and finding a way to make the most of their limited scoring chances. To remain competitive, the Bruins will need not only a strong game from Pastrnak, but a collective step-up from forwards like Pavel Zacha, Charlie Coyle, and Jake DeBrusk, who must find a way to create space and sustain pressure on the forecheck. Defensively, it’s about structure and survival—keeping New Jersey’s top line from gaining speed, avoiding costly turnovers, and limiting the number of high-danger looks that Swayman has to face. While the playoffs are out of realistic reach, this game offers Boston a chance to show pride, play spoiler, and perhaps lay the groundwork for offseason evaluations and roster decisions. If they can play smart, stay out of the penalty box, and capitalize on limited opportunities, the Bruins have enough individual talent to make it competitive—but they’ll need near-flawless execution to escape with points against a confident and playoff-focused Devils squad.