Defenseman Looks To Build On This Bruins’ Strength This Season

BOSTON — The Bruins kicked off their 2024-25 campaign with an ugly loss to the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers on Tuesday night. Boston head coach Jim Montgomery was critical of the team’s play in front of goalie Joonas Korpisalo, but there was at least one bright spot in the lopsided loss — the penalty kill was a perfect 6-for-6 in the contest.

Bruins blue liner Hampus Lindholm led all Boston defensemen in shorthanded ice time with 7:51. Lindholm is looking forward to building on that strength of the Black and Gold.

“I’ve always been like the Swiss army knife, and you put me in, and I’ll do my best to help the team win hockey games, ” Lindholm told reporters, per team-provided video. “We’ve been doing some good things on the PK. We’re obviously going to take that with us (against the Canadiens), but it’s a full game of hockey out there, five-on-five, power play, PK; we want to put a full game together (Thursday).”

The Bruins posted an 82.46% success rate on the penalty kill last season, which was tied with the Panthers for sixth-best in the league.

Lindholm pointed out the first game of the season may have been a loss, but it’s not indicative of what the Bruins are made of.

“It’s not that we get a pass, it’s the first game,” he said. “We don’t put that much into it. Obviously, we know we have to play way better here at home against Montreal.”