Bruins Score Three Late Goals to Shut Out Rangers 3-0 in Season Opener

Bruins Break Through Late

The Boston Bruins opened the NHL season with a dramatic late scoring surge, scoring three times in a 75-second span to defeat the New York Rangers 3-0 on Tuesday night.

Fraser Minten broke a scoreless tie with just over four minutes remaining, and JJ Peterka followed 52 seconds later before Mark Kastelic added an empty-net goal 23 seconds after that to complete the Bruins’ season-opening victory.

Minten Ends Scoreless Battle

After nearly 56 minutes without a goal, Boston finally found the breakthrough when Minten received a clear path on the left side and fired a shot that slipped just past Igor Shesterkin’s glove. It was a dream start for Minten, who recently signed a new seven-year contract. Elias Lindholm and Hampus Lindholm assisted on the opening goal.

Boston had been knocking on the door throughout the night and nearly broke the stalemate several times. Pavel Zacha hit the left post in the third period, but the Bruins continued to apply pressure until Minten finally put them ahead.

Peterka then doubled Boston’s lead 52 seconds later, and Kastelic capped the three-goal outburst with an empty-netter 23 seconds after Peterka’s goal. Minten and Marat Khusnutdinov assisted on Kastelic’s goal. The Bruins’ late offensive explosion turned a tightly contested game into a convincing opening-night victory.

Swayman Shuts Out Rangers

Jeremy Swayman made 24 saves to record the 19th shutout of his career and give Boston a perfect start to the new season. The Rangers actually finished with a 24-23 advantage in shots, but Boston was the more aggressive team for much of the night.

The Bruins consistently pressured New York’s defense and generated several quality opportunities before finally breaking through late. Shesterkin kept the Rangers within reach for most of the game, making 20 saves before Boston’s three-goal surge put the contest out of reach.

Bruins Open New Season With New Captain

Tuesday also marked a significant moment for David Pastrnak, who made his debut as the 28th captain in Bruins history. Boston went without a player wearing the captain’s patch last season, making Pastrnak’s appointment another notable change as the Bruins begin a new campaign.

Boston is coming off a first-round playoff loss to the Buffalo Sabres during Marco Sturm’s first season as head coach. The Bruins will look to build on Tuesday’s strong defensive performance while continuing to establish their identity under Sturm.

Boston was also without defenseman Charlie McAvoy, who began serving a six-game suspension stemming from his slash on Buffalo’s Zach Benson during last season’s playoff series.

New York Begins Season With Another Shutout Loss

The Rangers entered the season looking for significant improvement after a difficult 2025-26 campaign. New York finished last in the Eastern Conference and missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season, leading to a series of offseason roster changes.

Despite controlling the shot total Tuesday, the Rangers were unable to solve Swayman or generate a goal when they needed one. Their opening-night challenge now shifts to finding more offense and turning their territorial advantages into results.

Next Game Up

The Rangers return home Thursday night to host the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Bruins will hit the road Friday night for a matchup against the Winnipeg Jets.