The NHL’s Boston Bruins Are In Freefall. What Happens Next?

Brad Marchand's trade and Jeremy Swayman's struggles have been just two of the lowlights for the ... More Boston Bruins in 2024-25. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images)
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Just two years after setting an all-time record for points in a single NHL season, the Boston Bruins are at a crossroads.
On Saturday, they dropped their eighth-straight game as they finished out a five-game road trip with a 2-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings. With just one overtime loss among the bunch, it’s the third time this season that they’ve gone winless for five or more games in a row.
With 10 games remaining, the Bruins have fallen to 30-35-9 for 69 points in 74 games. Eight points out of the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference on Sunday, it’s all-but guaranteed that their streak of eight consecutive playoff appearances, which is tied for the active NHL lead, is about to come to an end.
In the past, Boston has been able to shake off adversity and remain successful. But this year has been different.
No More Goalie Hugs
Maybe the tide changed when Linus Ullmark was traded to the Ottawa Senators on June 24, 2024?
Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman celebrate their win against the Florida Panthers in in Round 1 of ... More the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs. (Photo by China Wong/NHLI via Getty Images)
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