Most NHL teams hope and expect their younger players to step up and make resounding statements early in the preseason each year, and the Bruins had to be pleased with what they saw from their youngsters in the team’s preseason opener.
19-year-old wunderkind James Hagens scored a slick game-winner in the shootout in a 3-2 win over the Washington Capitals at TD Garden on Sunday night, Matt Poitras set up the game-tying goal late in the third period with a clean offensive zone faceoff win, Michael DiPietro had a stellar debut (30 saves) as he takes over backup goaltending duties and young P-Bruins skaters Riley Duran and Jake Schmaltz teamed up for Boston’s other goal during regulation play.
Even young D-man Frederic Brunet showed encouraging signs away from the puck in the closing seconds, when the Capitals pushed for a late, game-winning goal; he made a diving play to poke the puck away and blocked a shot late in the proceedings to force overtime.
There were peaks and valleys to Boston’s performance over the course of the 65-plus minutes of hockey, of course, but Marco Sturm was pleased after it was all over with how his youngest players performed, and how the overall effort was true to the identity the Black and Gold aspire to play with this season.
“Overall, I was happy with my guys,” said Sturm after the preseason game was over. “I worked them pretty good the last three days [at training camp], so I knew they were going to be tired. But they didn’t stop, they worked and they tried everything that was possible.
“So that’s what I liked about today’s game. For me that’s us…that’s Bruins hockey. Mikey [DiPietro] was really good. He made some really good saves early on. I was really happy with his efforts and his overall game, and that was the same with the other [young] guys too. With Wash they went with a little bit of size, especially on the back end, so we had a little trouble getting to the front of the net, but the guys worked and I didn’t mind their games.”
Clearly, the most eyes were on Hagens, and he was active throughout while playing on the “Kid Line” with Marat Khusnutdinov and Fraser Minten, posting three shots on net and six total shot attempts while generating some offensive chances. But the real eye-catching moment was Hagens pulling off the nonchalant five-hole move in the shootout for the game-winner after he’d attempted the same move during the B’s training camp scrimmage on Saturday at Warrior Ice Arena.
That kind of skill and goal-scorer’s confidence can’t be faked or learned, and it should make an impact for the Black and Gold this season.
They say practice makes perfect 👌 pic.twitter.com/6jEJAAKU40
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) September 21, 2026
More interesting was Poitras competing for a roster spot and aiming to show he can be a trusted, detailed all-around center who can handle bottom-six minutes, in addition to his innate playmaking and offensive abilities on the puck. The 22-year-old showed that while finishing with four shots on net and seven shot attempts in 16 plus minutes of ice time, won 6-of-10 faceoffs and showed Sturm a little something by really committing to winning that late third period O-zone draw to Minten, who set up Charlie McAvoy for the game-tying point bomb from the high point.
“He tried…he tried really hard,” said Sturm. “He had a couple of good moments. What was funny, though, is there was a neutral zone faceoff right before that and he lost that one. And I knew he was pissed. That was one of the reasons I left him out there was because he was pissed.
“I knew he was going to get something out of it and he made a really good faceoff play.”
That’s a hockey coach showing good feel for the game with one of his younger players and also giving them a chance to excel in a preseason setting where evaluations have to be made.
It was the kind of perfect execution and detailed play that can help a player win an NHL roster spot when camp is all said and done, and Poitras is definitely on that bubble in camp this season with a ton of depth amongst Bruins forwards.
“I was just relying on my instincts and trying to play the right way,” said Poitras, who is embattled with a number of bottom-6 types like Sean Kuraly, Mikey Eyssimont, Alex Steeves, Lukas Reichel, Riley Duran, Mark Kastelic and even some top 6 guys as the Bruins have a lot of NHL-capable bodies in camp. “[The faceoff] win felt good. Just trying to go out there and do the job and get possession. That’s the first thing, 6-on-5 because you don’t want to be chasing the puck.
“I felt pretty quick and settled in after the first [period]. I tried to play with some pace and be confident with the puck and play my game. I thought I did that.”
At the other end of the spectrum is DiPietro, who is all but assured to begin the season as the backup netminder in Boston, a spot that will be key for the Bruins behind a player in Jeremy Swayman expected to play 55-60 games this season. It will be an adjustment for DiPietro, but it’s one he’s ready for after dominating in the AHL each of the last two seasons and forcing Boston to trade veteran Joonas Korpisalo in order to make room for him on the Boston roster.
“I felt good. I was a lot more comfortable. Obviously, there were nerves, but I think I was able to manage it pretty well,” said DiPietro, who shut out all three shooters in the shootout to ensure the victory. “There were a few things to clean up, but it was a good effort the first one out. Anytime you’re in main [NHL] camp you’re just trying to put your best foot forward, compete, stay humble and show your work ethic while trying to win a job.
“I kind of went back to last year and the mentality of that Columbus game and just going in cold [for the Bruins]. It’s an opportunity and I’m just trying to go out there and seize it. You want to make a good impression on the coaching staff and earn the trust of your teammates in your first time out.”
The wrinkle with this season’s camp, obviously, is that the regular season will be upon us in just another week and there are only three more preseason game chances for the young guys to potentially win spots. So the good first impression made in Sunday’s preseason opener was critical for the young guys vying for spots in Boston right now, and across the board it was a big success with more critical chances to come.