The Boston Bruins are looking to turn their fortunes around as they travel to San Jose to face the Sharks in a late-night matchup on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at 10:30 p.m. EDT. Currently sitting at an unimpressive 30-31-9 record, the Bruins are desperate for a win to snap their four-game losing streak against the Sharks, who have had an even tougher season, registering an 18-42-9 record overall.
This game marks the second meeting between these two teams this season, with the Bruins taking the lead in the first encounter with a resounding 6-3 victory. In that game, Charlie Coyle showcased his skills by scoring two goals, proving to be a crucial player for Boston.
The Bruins have struggled defensively this season, allowing a total of 254 goals, leading to a concerning -76 scoring differential with just 178 goals scored of their own. Adding to their woes, the Bruins lead the league in penalty minutes, averaging 10.2 per game, something they will need to manage better against the Sharks.
On the other side, the Sharks are also in a rough patch, going 3-6-1 over their last ten games. They have averaged only 2.7 goals per game while allowing a troubling 3.6 goals. Despite this, the Sharks still have some standout players, like William Eklund, who has made his mark with 15 goals and 35 assists this season, and rookie Will Smith, who has contributed five goals and six assists over his last ten games.
In recent performances, Pavel Zacha has stood out for the Bruins, notching 14 goals and 28 assists this season. His scoring ability will be key as Boston looks to bounce back in their challenging five-game trip against tough opponents.
In terms of injuries, both teams report none, which leaves them at full strength for the pivotal matchup. The Bruins will need all hands on deck as they strive to recover ground, sitting five points back of the final wild-card slot in the Eastern Conference with just 12 games remaining in their season.
In a related note, the Bruins faced the Vegas Golden Knights just two days prior, on March 20, where they suffered a 5-1 defeat. Pavel Dorofeyev shone for Vegas, scoring a hat trick, while other goals came from Brett Howden and Ivan Barbashev. Adin Hill handled goalkeeping duties for the Knights, making 18 saves to secure the win. The lone bright spot for Boston that night came when Morgan Geekie found the back of the net with just 2:11 left to play, marking his 24th goal of the season. Jeremy Swayman recorded 27 saves for the Bruins, but the team’s shooting woes continued, managing just 19 shots throughout the game.
Boston’s performance has led to criticism, as they have averaged only 20 shots over their last five contests and have been outshot in each game. This defensively flawed showing means they will need to drastically improve their scoring chances against the Sharks, who are equally struggling.
William Karlsson made his return to the Knights after a lengthy absence due to a lower-body injury and contributed with an assist on Dorofeyev's opening goal on a power play, capitalizing on a slashing penalty by Nikita Zadorov, an incident described as the turning point in the game.
As the Bruins face the Sharks, both teams certainly have a lot to prove. For the Sharks, lifting themselves out of the basement of the Pacific Division rests on their shoulders in their own rink. Conversely, for the Bruins, climbing back into playoff contention will require not only a win against San Jose but a series of strong performances in their remaining games.
