The JJ Peterka era has officially begun in Boston.
The 26-year-old German winger was brought in to be an offensive difference-maker, and he’s done just that, scoring in each of Boston’s first two games, including the overtime game-winner in Friday night’s 4-3 OT win over the Winnipeg Jets at Canada Life Centre.
The opening-night score was a highlight-reel play through Rangers defender Braden Schneider’s legs en route to a low-blocker shot, and Peterka went low again with a five-hole bid, finishing off a 2-on-1 with David Pastrnak that highlighted the winger’s game-breaking speed and ability to shoot for strategic spots at top speed.
JJ OT GWG ‼️ pic.twitter.com/h1XiL9HQkB
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) October 3, 2026
“It’s almost like he smells blood when there’s [a chance] for a breakaway. I’ve never seen somebody move so fast,” said Hampus Lindholm, who’s been on the other side defending him over the years. “And he knows how to finish it off. He doesn’t make it look easy, but people don’t understand how hard it is to do what he does. We are glad to have him on our side.”
It’s a much different vibe for Peterka in Boston than in Utah, as he endured a down year without the power-play time he’s accustomed to, so that’s been Boston’s gain after sending a couple of first-rounders in a trade for him. The Boston team and Peterka’s potential had many wondering whether he’d top 30 goals for the first time in his NHL career if he found his way into much ice time with the playmaking Pastrnak, and that’s been the case thus far in Boston.
It’s also allowed the Bruins to score seven goals in their first two games, which puts them atop the Atlantic Division offensively while also in the catbird seat in the standings with a perfect record through their first couple of games.
“It’s a privilege being out there in those situations. It’s a lot of fun when the game is on the line,” said Peterka. “I am enjoying every second out there. Great competition and great team spirit out there. I don’t think it was the prettiest game out there, but we found a way to win.”
It was interesting to see forwards shuffled around in the third period of Friday night’s game in Winnipeg with Peterka skating more with Pavel Zacha and Casey Mittelstadt in a second line situation, but Sturm went right back to his two difference-making offensive players in overtime, and that led directly to the game-winner highlighting the skill packages of both gifted Bruins forwards.
“He’s been great. Since Day One I feel like [Peterka] always came in with a smile. He loves the city. He loves the group,” said Sturm. “I do believe he loves to play with [David Pastrnak] too so it’s a good combination.
“There’s always a reason why we got him. Not because he’s a German, but because he’s a pretty good hockey player.”
ONE TIMERS
*People can say what they want about hockey fights being unnecessary or being a hockey artifact from a bygone age, but there is little doubt that there are still times when a good tilt can swing the momentum in a game.
That was the case in the first period of Friday night’s Bruins win in Winnipeg as Mark Kastelic recognized that the slow-starting Bruins needed a lift and dropped the gloves with a tough customer in young Tyrel Bauer.
Tyrel Bauer left Mark Kastelic bloodied after this fight 😳💥 pic.twitter.com/bYnEjHmqSC
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 3, 2026
Kastelic left bloodied after both combatants threw bombs at each other, but the Bruins also scored the next two goals and changed the direction of the game, in part, because of Kastelic’s willingness to drag Boston into the fight.
“Big, big fight. That kid over there is pretty tough,” said Marco Sturm after the Friday night win. “So good for him, but we needed it. That’s where those always seem to know when to do it. That was a big gamechanger for us because they came out very strong.”
Kastelic, aside from the fight, played an excellent game with just nine-plus minutes of ice time, notching an assist on James Hagens’ first career NHL goal and hustling for a third-period backcheck to break up a 2-on-1 created when Mason Lohrei blew a tire and fell down at the offensive blue line.
*Hagens became the second-youngest player to score for the Bruins in the last eight years, joining Matt Poitras as the second teenager (19 years, 333 days) to score their first NHL goal with the Bruins, after Poitras (19 years, 226 days) back in Oct. of the 2023-24 regular season. Hagens drew a celebratory crowd right after popping in the rebound goal at the doorstep and got plenty of plaudits on the bench afterward for his big NHL moment as a 19-year-old rookie in the league.
JAMES HAGENS HAS HIS FIRST GOAL IN THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE 🚨#Jets pic.twitter.com/txFW2OQ9rx
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) October 3, 2026
"I think it kind of speaks to the culture here,” said Hagens. “To be able to have everybody come over and congratulate me –– it’s something I will never forget. It means a lot to me. These guys are awesome."
*Congrats to Tanner Jeannot on being one of the B’s players selected to wear the “A” this season after proving to be a physical, menacing presence in the Bruins lineup last season who consistently stuck up for his teammates. The 29-year-old Jeannot is exactly the kind of hardnosed player that has earned the respect of every single one of his teammates, and that’s easy to see every time he draws a crowd of fist pounds at the penalty box after he’s just tangled with another one of the league’s heavyweights.
“It’s obviously a huge honor. To be able to wear that on my sweater on an Original Six team, it’s just a dream come true. I just want to do everything I can to help the guys, help the team win. Bring it every single day, whatever that needs to be – if that’s making hits, blocking shots, getting to the net, going to the hard areas, whatever it is,” said Jeannot. “If I can bring in some leadership as well and just pump the guys up as much as I can, then I am going to do it. I am going to do everything I can for this team. It’s a huge honor. Couldn’t be happier to do it.”
*Matt Poitras (lower body) practiced for the first time with the team this week and traveled with the Bruins for the two-game swing through Winnipeg and Minnesota. The smart money says he won’t play this weekend, as Sturm said he wanted to see the 22-year-old practice a few times before bringing him into the lineup. It will be interesting to see who comes out as the most likely candidate – Sean Kuraly – would create an absence on the penalty kill that led to three PP goals allowed by the B’s in the final preseason game in Washington.