As ugly as Sunday’s overtime period was — due in large part to some careless play from David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy — the Bruins’ issues run deeper.
A prevailing theme in Boston’s recent slide has been rooted in a stagnant offense, with some painful regression across several spots on the depth chart.
In the last three games, the Bruins have only scored three goals. Over those nine periods of regulation, they have landed 10 or more shots on goal just three times.
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Even with Pavel Zacha securing the Bruins’ lone goal on Sunday via a power play, Boston’s man-advantage has been mired in a slump since the Olympic break.
Over the last 20 games, the Bruins’ power play is cashing in on 15.6 percent of its opportunities, ranking 28th over that stretch.
With the playoffs right around the corner, the Bruins are in desperate need of a jolt up front. Could James Hagens be that spark?
The Bruins had a front-row seat for what a blue-chip prospect can do for an ascending team on Sunday.
Porter Martone — taken one pick before the Bruins drafted Hagens seventh overall in the 2025 NHL Draft — made his presence felt for the Flyers.
In his fourth NHL game, the 19-year-old had the primary helper on the Flyers’ goal in regulation, before scoring his first pro tally in overtime.
Martone, who thrived in his lone season at Michigan State this winter (50 points in 35 games), made the jump right to the NHL after the Spartans’ season, the Flyers adding the pugnacious power forward in hopes of a late-season push.
The Bruins have opted for a more conservative approach with Hagens, who posted 47 points in 34 games with Boston College as a sophomore.
The 19-year-old forward is on an AHL amateur tryout contract with the Providence Bruins, giving him some experience and an extended runway to acclimate to the pro game.
Boston still has the option to sign Hagens to his entry-level contract, adding him to the NHL roster for the stretch run and a (likely) playoff appearance.
Hagens hasn’t exactly stuffed the stat sheet in the AHL with one goal and three assists over six games.
But his passing ability and power-play skills have popped against AHL competition.
Signing Hagens to his ELC would prevent him from rejoining Providence for the Calder Cup playoffs. Still, there’s a lot to like about what the skilled forward could offer the Bruins over the next few weeks.
Slotting Hagens on a third line with a laboring Morgan Geekie and Elias Lindholm might be the next contingency plan. A reworked top line of Geekie, Lindholm, and Pastrnak has not worked this season.
In their 294 minutes of five-on-five ice time together, the Bruins have been outscored, 14-12 (per Natural Stat Trick). Not what you want to see out of your supposed top line.
By putting a gifted playmaker such as Hagens on a line with Geekie and Lindholm, it would allow Sturm to keep Pastrnak with Fraser Minten and Marat Khusnutdinov, a trio that has outscored opponents, 15-6, in their 188 minutes of five-on-five reps.
Sturm needs to exhaust all his options to try to get Geekie rolling again. The 34-goal scorer has not lit the lamp in 17 straight games, and has done so just two times in his last 22 games.
It should come as little surprise that Boston’s power play also has been sapped of its potency when Geekie’s blistering one-timer has been neutralized.
It’s to be expected for there to be some growing pains for Hagens. But his talent and hockey IQ are already evident, while a third-line spot gives him an ideal landing spot to earn his stripes without being exposed to heavy minutes.
Hagens might be the best option remaining for the Bruins to help get Geekie out of his rut, while his knack for generating clean entries would also give their lagging power play a boost.
There’s no guarantee that Hagens will have immediate success. And the Bruins might be kicking themselves if Hagens is ruled out of an extended Calder Cup run.
But cutting his teeth in the NFL playoffs might serve Hagens better in the long run, as opposed to games against AHL competition.
And if Hagens does give the Bruins a shot in the arm? They club could be playing more than just one round of postseason hockey.
Conor Ryan can be reached at conor.ryan@globe.com.