What a Six-Game Losing Streak Means for the Bruins' Playoff Push
After the trade of longtime captain Brad Marchand and several other key moves at the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline, it’s safe to say the Boston Bruins have entered a steep downward spiral. Since the March 8th deadline, the Bruins have posted a 2-5-1 record. Their overtime loss to the Buffalo Sabres on March 17th extended their losing streak to six games, their second such skid this season, and the first time they've done so since the 2006–2007 campaign, delivering a major blow to their playoff hopes. According to analytics, Boston is now poised to miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2016.
In short, there is essentially no playoff push left for the Bruins in the 2024–2025 season. The outlook is especially bleak for David Pastrňák and the rest of the team if they can't find a way to snap their relentless winless streak. The losing skid has not only crushed their playoff chances but also taken a visible toll on the team’s confidence. Following a tough loss against the Los Angeles Kings, forward Casey Mittelstadt summed up the locker room’s frustration when asked how the team could turn things around by saying, “I wish I knew.”
The Bruins have a rich legacy, with six Stanley Cup titles and eight playoff appearances over the last ten seasons, including seven series wins. In 2023–2024, they made it to the second round before falling in the conference semifinals. This year’s decline can be traced back to multiple issues, starting with the struggles of goaltender Jeremy Swayman, who now leads the league in goals against with 155 in 51 games. The departure of core players like Marchand, Trent Frederic, Charlie Coyle, and Brandon Carlo signaled a shift in direction, and while the team did make additions, the current roster has statistically underperformed. However, the Bruins’ downfall can’t be blamed solely on the trade deadline. Earlier in the season, head coach Jim Montgomery was fired after an 8-9-3 start, setting the tone for a year defined by instability.
With only 10 games remaining, MoneyPuck.com gives the Bruins just a 0.1% chance of making the playoffs. While a late-season miracle is mathematically possible, it would require Boston to win out while hoping for significant collapses from multiple teams ahead of them. If that doesn’t happen—and it likely won’t—the franchise is headed for a critical offseason full of questions. The Bruins will need to reassess, rebuild, and make significant changes to avoid a long-term slide. Morale is low in Beantown and with playoff hopes nearly gone, Boston fans now turn their attention to how this storied franchise can recover from a season marked by setbacks and uncertainty.
