Photo: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
The Boston Bruins visit the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center on Friday, October 16, 2026, with puck drop set for 10:00 PM EDT.
Matchup: Boston Bruins (5-2-0, 10 points in 2026-27) at Anaheim Ducks (4-2-0, 8 points in 2026-27)
Date: Friday, October 16, 2026
Puck drop: 10:00 PM EDT (7:00 PM PDT local)
Venue: Honda Center
How to watch: ANA: FOXLA+, Prime Video · BOS: NESN
Boston Bruins News & Notes
Charlie McAvoy’s return from a six-game suspension, issued for a slash on Buffalo’s Zach Benson during last year’s playoffs, leaves Boston with eight defensemen on the active roster and a decision to make. Hampus Lindholm, Nikita Zadorov, Will Borgen and Connor Clifton appear secure, leaving Mason Lohrei, Jonathan Aspirot and Frederic Brunet in competition. Lohrei, who has 196 career NHL games, added 10 pounds over the summer and has three points through five games while averaging 19:48 per night. Jordan Harris and Henri Jokiharju were already sent to AHL Providence.
Marco Sturm reshuffled his lines after Boston followed an opening-night win over the Rangers with a 1-2-0 stretch, grouping David Pastrnak, Morgan Geekie and Pavel Zacha on the top unit. None of the three had scored through that point. With Viktor Arvidsson now in Detroit, Sturm has called on younger forwards to supply secondary offense. Meanwhile, Pierre LeBrun reported the Bruins are among at least 10 teams that have inquired about Red Wings restricted free agent Simon Edvinsson, whom Detroit’s interim GM Shawn Horcoff would prefer to re-sign.
Anaheim Ducks News & Notes
Leo Carlsson has driven Anaheim’s opening stretch, collecting six points in the team’s first three games, including a goal and an assist in a 4-3 win over Vegas, three assists in a 3-2 overtime win against Florida, and two assists in a 5-2 loss to Edmonton. The 21-year-old center leads the Ducks in scoring and sits tied for fifth in league points. Carlsson signed a five-year, $90 million offer sheet from Philadelphia over the summer that Anaheim matched, committing $18 million annually and contributing to the cap squeeze that preceded Chris Kreider’s departure to Montreal.
The forward group has thinned out. Troy Terry is on injured reserve, Cutter Gauthier was listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury, Ryan Poehling is expected to miss six to eight weeks with a sprained MCL, and Mikael Granlund is day-to-day with an upper-body issue. Anaheim recalled Roger McQueen, the tenth overall pick in 2025, from San Diego, where he had three goals in four games. Depth carried the Ducks in a 5-1 win at Winnipeg, with Judd Caulfield, Tim Washe and Jeff Malott combining for five points.
Boston Bruins Projected Lines
Line 1: Morgan Geekie – Pavel Zacha – David Pastrnak
Line 2: Marat Khusnutdinov – Fraser Minten – JJ Peterka
Line 3: Casey Mittelstadt – Elias Lindholm – James Hagens
Line 4: Tanner Jeannot – Matthew Poitras – Mark Kastelic
Pair 1: Hampus Lindholm – Charlie McAvoy
Pair 2: Nikita Zadorov – Will Borgen
Pair 3: Frederic Brunet – Mason Lohrei
Goaltenders: Jeremy Swayman – Michael DiPietro
Boston Bruins Special Teams
Power play, First unit: Morgan Geekie – Elias Lindholm – Pavel Zacha – David Pastrnak – Charlie McAvoy
Power play, Second unit: James Hagens – Casey Mittelstadt – Fraser Minten – Frederic Brunet – JJ Peterka
Penalty kill, First unit: Elias Lindholm – Marat Khusnutdinov – Hampus Lindholm – Charlie McAvoy
Penalty kill, Second unit: Fraser Minten – Pavel Zacha – Nikita Zadorov – Will Borgen
Anaheim Ducks Projected Lines
Line 1: Alex Killorn – Leo Carlsson – Nikita Klepov
Line 2: Nikita Nesterenko – Cutter Gauthier – Beckett Sennecke
Line 3: Frank Vatrano – Roger McQueen – Judd Caulfield
Line 4: A.J. Greer – Tim Washe – Jeff Malott
Pair 1: Jackson Lacombe – Noah Warren
Pair 2: Pavel Mintyukov – Tristan Luneau
Pair 3: Tyson Hinds – Drew Helleson
Goaltenders: Lukas Dostal – Ville Husso
Anaheim Ducks Special Teams
Power play, First unit: Judd Caulfield – Leo Carlsson – Cutter Gauthier – Beckett Sennecke – Jackson Lacombe
Power play, Second unit: Alex Killorn – Roger McQueen – Nikita Klepov – Frank Vatrano – Tristan Luneau
Penalty kill, First unit: Tim Washe – Alex Killorn – Jackson Lacombe – Pavel Mintyukov
Penalty kill, Second unit: Leo Carlsson – Frank Vatrano – Noah Warren – Tyson Hinds
Players To Watch
David Pastrnak — Boston Bruins
Pastrnak had an assist and four shots last time out, but the underlying work is the story: Box Score Junkie has him at 58.8% Corsi-for and 61.1% Fenwick through 136 minutes this season, with 66.1 shot attempts per 60. Two goals on 2.2 expected means the volume should keep producing. A fine shots-on-goal prop target.
Leo Carlsson — Anaheim Ducks
Carlsson scored on two shots last game while logging 22:18. Box Score Junkie’s 2026-27 numbers back it up: 55.9% Corsi-for, 58.1% Fenwick and a team-best 68.6 shot attempts per 60 across 121 minutes. He’s also two goals on 1.0 expected, so he’s finishing above the margin. With Granlund and Gauthier banged up, expect heavy minutes.
Injury Report
Boston Bruins: no report available.
Anaheim Ducks
Mikael Granlund (C) — Day-To-Day, Upper Body, expected back Friday, October 16
Cutter Gauthier (LW) — Day-To-Day, Upper Body, expected back Friday, October 16
Ryan Poehling (C) — Injured Reserve, Lower Body, expected back Wednesday, November 25
Troy Terry (RW) — Injured Reserve, Hip, expected back Saturday, November 21
Ian Moore (D) — Injured Reserve, Lower Body, expected back Friday, October 16
Next Up
Boston Bruins: visit the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday, October 17.
Anaheim Ducks: visit the New York Rangers on Monday, October 19.