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The Boston Bruins need to parlay regular season success into a long playoff run

Undefined by The Associated Press

The Boston Bruins’ season could depend on how negotiations with goaltender Jeremy Swayman turn out. The restricted free agent is waiting for a new deal. He must sign by December 1 or sit out the season. Joonas Korpisalo is the replacement. The Bruins followed their record-setting 2022-23 135-point season with 109 points last year and were eliminated in the second round by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. After reaching the 100-point mark in six full seasons in a row, the focus this year is on an extended playoff run. That hasn’t happened since reaching the Stanley Cup Final in 2019.

Boston Bruins

Last season: 47-20-15, losing to Florida in second round playoffs.

COACH: Jim Montgomery (278-172-75 over 5 seasons with 2 teams).

SEASON OPENING: October 8th in Florida.

DEPARTURES: G Linus Ullmark, F Jakub Lauko, F Oskar Steen, F Danton Heinen, D Derek Forbort, F Pat Maroon, F James van Riemsdyk, F Jake DeBrusk, D Kevin Shattenkirk.

ADDITIONS: G Joonas Korpisalo, F Elias Lindholm, D Nikita Zadorov, F Max Jones, F Riley Tufte.

SCORING GAMES: Jeremy Swayman (25-10-8, 2.53 GAA, .916 save percentage), Korpisalo (21-26-4, 3.27, .890).

BetMGM STANLEY CUP odds: 20-1.

What to expect

The Bruins followed their record-setting 135-point season in 2022-23 with even more 109 points last year and a second-round exit to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. After reaching the 100-point mark in six straight (non-pandemic-shortened) seasons, the focus this year will be on an extended playoff run. That hasn’t happened since reaching the Stanley Cup Final in 2019. It will largely depend on whether the team re-signs Swayman, a restricted free agent. After trading away 2023 Vezina Trophy winner Linus Ullmark, the Bruins may have to rely on Korpisalo until at least December 1st.

Strengths and weaknesses

The Good: Swayman was an All-Star in 2024 and finished in the top 5 in GAA in save percentage. He was good enough to steal the starting job from Ullmark in the playoffs last year, which led the Bruins to trade Ullmark in the summer. With the departures of Maroon, van Riemsdyk, Shattenkirk and Milan Lucic (who only played four games last season), the Bruins lose four of their five oldest players. And the other, captain Brad Marchand, is still going strong.

The not-so-good: The Bruins must sign Swayman by December 1st or he won’t be able to play this season. With Korpisalo as the No. 1, the goaltender goes from a strength to a weakness — especially with 26-year-old Brandon Bussi, who played 41 games for Providence of the AHL last season, as the backup.

Players to watch

F Fabian Lysell has a chance to make the team after putting up 50 points in 57 games for AHL Providence last season. F Matt Poitras left the team out of training camp last year at age 19 and had five goals and 10 assists in 33 games before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in February.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL

The Associated Press contributed to this article