In an exciting matchup on January 15, 2026, the Boston Bruins triumphed over the Seattle Kraken with a final score of 4-2. This thrilling game was particularly special as it began with the team honoring Zdeno Chara, the legendary defenseman and captain of their 2011 Stanley Cup-winning squad, by raising his jersey number 33 to the rafters of TD Garden.
The action kicked off quickly, with Marat Khusnutdinov scoring just 54 seconds into the game after receiving a long pass from Charlie McAvoy. Khusnutdinov skillfully maneuvered past Kraken goalie Joey Daccord, executing a smooth backhand shot to put the Bruins ahead. Not long after, at the 3:45 mark, Viktor Arvidsson added to the lead by attempting to center the puck for Casey Mittelstadt, only for it to deflect off Seattle’s Jordan Eberle and into the net, making it 2-0.
Despite the early setback, the Kraken took a timeout to regroup, which proved crucial as they would later find themselves in a challenging situation with players in the penalty box during the closing moments of the game. In the second period, Mark Kastelic scored a short-handed goal, capitalizing on a mistake by Kraken forward Matty Beniers, extending Boston’s lead to 3-1. Jeremy Swayman was impressive in goal for the Bruins, stopping a total of 26 shots throughout the game, contributing to their victory.
The Kraken did respond, with Chandler Stephenson and Eeli Tolvanen each finding the back of the net, but it was not enough to close the gap. David Pastrnak sealed the game with an empty-net goal with just 15 seconds remaining after Seattle incurred back-to-back penalties and opted to pull Daccord in favor of an extra skater.
This win marked a significant achievement for the Bruins, as they completed a five-game homestand successfully—a feat they hadn’t accomplished since 2019—and secured their seventh victory in eight matches. Meanwhile, the Kraken faced a tough stretch, having lost four of their last five games.
Looking ahead, the Bruins will be traveling to Chicago for their next contest while the Kraken are set to visit Utah on Saturday. With both teams eager to improve their standings, fans can expect more thrilling hockey ahead. What do you think about the Bruins’ chances this season? Can the Kraken turn their fortunes around? Share your thoughts!
