Seven games. Zero wins. And a locker room full of frustration. The Boston Bruins are caught in a free fall at the worst possible time, sliding hard with the postseason right around the corner. Just this week, they got roasted 6-2 by the Ducks and embarrassed 7-2 by the Kings—two teams not exactly lighting the league on fire. But here’s the kicker: even after all that, they’re not mathematically dead. Not yet.

Now sitting at 30-34-9, the Bruins are chilling near the bottom of the Atlantic Division—just one spot above the Pittsburgh Penguins, but level on points. They’ve got 69 points in the bag, trailing the Montreal Canadiens by six for that final wild card spot. The Canadiens have a game in hand, too, so the clock’s ticking fast. But guess who they get next? The Detroit Red Wings—a direct rival in the standings, and quite literally their last chance to punch their way back into the race.

The Red Wings game = must-win mode for the Boston Bruins

Call it a playoff game before the playoffs even begin—because that’s exactly what Saturday’s clash with the Red Wings is. Detroit sits just one rung above Boston with 72 points and a record of 33-33-6. If the Bruins pull off a regulation win, they not only stop the bleeding but also make things spicy in the wild card chase. Lose? That’s probably game over for 2025.

And the team knows it. “We’re both fighting for playoff spots with each other. It’s a huge game to say the least,” said Mark Kastelic, speaking to the media, heading into the crunch-time stretch. Yeah, no pressure.

To put it into perspective: the Boston Bruins have just nine games left, and they’ll likely need at least six wins (plus some help from above) to stay alive. They’re also lagging behind other contenders like the Islanders (74 pts), Rangers (74 pts), and Blue Jackets (73 pts)—all of whom are playing tighter, more disciplined hockey right now.

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Marchand’s Gone, Pastrnak’s Heated, and Joe Sacco’s Tired of the Excuses

Let’s be real—this ain’t just a losing streak. It’s a full-on identity crisis. And it’s got interim coach Joe Sacco throwing his hands up after every game. “It’s a frustrating time right now,” he said after the Ducks loss. “You start trying to play catch-up hockey, and you open yourself up for more mistakes.” Facts.

It’s also the 13th time this season Boston’s given up six or more goals in a single game. Yikes. The defense is getting cooked, and the offense isn’t firing back. Against the Kings, they managed just nine shots after two periods. Pastrnak didn’t sugarcoat it: “A little bit of disconnection… every goal was started in the (offensive) zone. We lost the puck or made unforced mistakes.”

And yeah, Bruins fans are still salty over Brad Marchand’s trade to Florida. While he’s looking forward to playoff hockey, Boston’s missing his fire big time. The leadership torch has now passed to Pastrnak and the vets, and with time slipping away, they better get it lit—fast.

So here’s where it stands: 69 points. Nine games to go. Six-point gap. And a head-to-head showdown with Detroit looming. If the Bruins want to write a comeback story, it starts right now. No more “maybe next year” energy—this is it.

Will the Boston Bruins crack under the weight or rally with their backs to the wall? The fans are watching. The standings are shifting by the hour. And the playoffs? Still barely within reach. Win or pack it up. The choice is theirs.