A game on Dec. 23 — even a pitched rematch against an Original Six nemesis like Montreal — wasn’t going to be the final determinant in the Bruins’ fortunes in 2025-26.
No playoff ticket would be punched — or rescinded — off a game two days away from Christmas.
Granted, that sound logic flew in the face of the commentary shared by the Bruins entering Tuesday’s showdown on Causeway Street.
“We can call it the most important game so far [that] we’ve had this year,” David Pastrnak said Monday. “It’s a big game for us and we need to bounce back heading into the Christmas break.