The Boston Bruins are set to face off against the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena for their season opener. As the 2025-26 NHL season commences, here are three key aspects to monitor during this matchup.
1. Top Line Chemistry:
Bruins fans will be eager to see if the top line of Morgan Geekie, Elias Lindholm, and David Pastrnak can maintain the chemistry they established last season. This trio demonstrated significant potential, and their ability to continue where they left off could be a major factor in the Bruins' offensive success. Last season, in the 93 minutes they played together, they had a 56.85% puck possession rate, outscored opponents 16-4, and controlled 64.29% of the expected goals share.
2. Impact of New Head Coach Marco Sturm:
Marco Sturm will be behind the bench for his first game as an NHL head coach. Sturm has emphasized open communication and providing room for growth, which has resonated well with the team during training camp. Players have praised the high-paced and competitive nature of the camp, noting the implementation of new systems that make sense. The regular season will be the true test of Sturm's influence and whether his approach translates to success on the ice.
3. Capitals' Offensive Configuration:
Dylan Strome is slated to center the Capitals' first line, playing alongside Aliaksei Protas and Alex Ovechkin. Strome, who led Washington with 82 points last season, will be a key player to watch. Additionally, Pierre-Olivier Joseph is expected to center the third line with veteran winger Anthony Beauvillier and rookie Ryan Leonard. If this line can find early chemistry, the Capitals could have a significantly deep and diverse forward group.
The Capitals are coming off a strong 2024-25 season where they finished first in the Metropolitan Division with a 51-22-9 record. The Bruins, on the other hand, had a 33-39-10 record last season. Washington's home record was particularly impressive at 30-10-7.
The game is scheduled for Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. EDT and will be broadcast on MNMT, with radio coverage on 106.7 THE FAN/Caps Radio Network.
