Bruins Return from Break, Begin Second Half Push Against Calgary

The Boston Bruins are set to kick off the unofficial second half of their season after the All-Star break and bye week. With the calendar turned to February, the Bruins are focused on continuing to improve their game and position themselves for a playoff run. David Pastrnak, fresh off his fourth All-Star Game appearance, emphasized the importance of winning tight games and finding ways to win as a team.

The Bruins will begin their push in a home game against the Calgary Flames at TD Garden. This game also marks the start of a lengthy seven-game, two-week homestand, which is one of the longest in recent memory for the Bruins. Defenseman Charlie McAvoy expressed excitement for the extended time at home and the opportunity to play in front of their amazing fans.

Boston has found their identity since Christmas, posting a 12-2-3 record. Coach Jim Montgomery believes his team is on the right track and expects them to be even better coming out of this break. He emphasized playing to their strengths and improving in areas that give them success. Montgomery anticipates a slightly quicker pace in the game against the Flames, but he is confident that the Bruins will continue to improve as the second half progresses.

The Flames, who are five points out of the West’s second wild card spot, will be determined to come out strong against the Bruins. They recently traded Elias Lindholm, and Trent Frederic expects the Flames’ players to step up and seize the opportunity for more ice time and contributions. Blake Coleman and Yegor Sharangovich lead the Flames in goals, while Nazem Kadri ranks second in points. Former Bruins winger A.J. Greer and ex-Boston goalie Dan Vladar will also make their return to TD Garden as members of the Flames. Jacob Markstrom will be guarding the net as Calgary’s primary goaltender.