Bruins Seal Sweep of Kraken with Kastelic’s Short‑Handed Game‑Winner

Bruins complete homestand with 4-2 win over Kraken

Boston seized early momentum and never trailed, riding a rapid start to a 4-2 victory over Seattle at TD garden and closing out a five-game homestand with a win streak intact.

Key moments and scorers

The Bruins wasted little time,scoring on their first two shots to set the tone. Marat Khusnutdinov buried the opener just 54 seconds into the game, driving wide and tucking a backhand past Joey Daccord.

Viktor Arvidsson stretched the lead at 3:45,capping a cross-ice feed from Pavel Zacha with a left-circle tally that redirected off a Seattle defender into the net.

Seattle trimmed the deficit at 7:29 when Chandler Stephenson redirected a shot at the side of the net, just as the Kraken cashed in on a power play. Jared McCann’s initial shot deflected in after a Stephenson faceoff win.

In the second period,Mark Kastelic snapped a short-handed goal at 4:40,stealing at the blue line and slipping the puck past Daccord to restore a two-goal lead.

Tolvanen answered on Seattle’s power play again at 12:27, lifting a shot from the bottom of the right circle that beat Swayman high on the stick side after a rebound off the end wall.

David Pastrnak iced the game with an empty-net goal from center ice with 14.1 seconds remaining.

Goaltending and team notes

Jeremy swayman made 26 saves, earning his third straight win as Boston withstood a late push after Seattle pulled Daccord with 2:38 to play.

Seattle outshot Boston 28-24 and finished 2-for-4 on the power play,while Boston’s attack pressure produced 11 shots in the final period.

Bruins defenseman Andrew Peeke left the game early with a lower-body injury and did not return.

The atmosphere was energized by the pregame jersey retirement for Hall of Fame defenseman Zdeno Chara, a moment that seemed to lift Boston into the opening shifts.

Game facts at a glance

Category	detail
Final score	Boston 4, Seattle 2
Location	TD Garden, Boston
Bruins goals	Khusnutdinov (1), Arvidsson (1), Kastelic (SH, 2nd), Pastrnak (EN)
Kraken goals	Stephenson (1), Tolvanen (1)
Goaltenders	Boston: Swayman 26 saves; Seattle: Daccord 20 saves
Shots	Seattle 28, Boston 24
Power plays	Seattle 2-for-4, Boston 0-for-2
Notable	Chara jersey retirement energized bruins before opening faceoff

Impact and evergreen takeaways

The win underscores Boston’s ability to strike early and convert on limited opportunities, then weather the Kraken’s push with solid goaltending. Kastelic’s short-handed tally highlighted Boston’s depth and resilience, while Seattle’s power play continued to produce, even as the Bruins locked down late in the game.

As the season progresses,this matchup illustrates how depth and discipline can tilt close games. Fans will watch how boston sustains its momentum and how Seattle adjusts its approach on special teams against top opponents.

What to watch next

Both teams will look to build on this performance in upcoming fixtures, with Boston aiming to extend its streak and Seattle refining its power-play execution and defensive consistency.

Reader questions

What moment stood out most to you from tonight’s game—the fast start by Boston or Kastelic’s short-handed strike?

Do you believe Seattle can convert its power-play success into more frequent wins, or will Boston continue to stifle opponents on special teams?

Share your thoughts and reactions below. If you found this recap helpful, feel free to comment and spread the word.

(OT) 12:46 – Tyler Kastelic (PP) scores shorthanded winner

– The Bruins secured a 3‑2 overtime victory, clinching a season‑sweep of the Kraken.

Bruins‑kraken Game Summary: Boston Completes Sweep with a Short‑Handed Finish

Date: January 16 2026 | Time: 07:57 | Venue: TD Garden

1. Game‑by‑Game Recap

Period	Score	Notable Events
1️⃣	Boston 1 – Seattle 0	13:22 – Brad Marchand (PP) scores power‑play goal
2️⃣	Boston 2 – Seattle 1	38:07 – Seattle’s jordan Eberle ties it on a 5‑on‑5 rush
3️⃣	Boston 3 – Seattle 2 (OT)	12:46 – Tyler Kastelic (PP) scores shorthanded winner

– The Bruins secured a 3‑2 overtime victory, clinching a season‑sweep of the Kraken.

• the decisive moment came when Kastelic capitalized on a penalty‑kill in the final minute of overtime.

2.How Kastelic’s Short‑Handed Goal Shifted Momentum

1. Penalty context – Boston was down two men after a boarding call on Matt Grzelcyk at 10:58 of the third period.
2. Set‑up play – Defenseman Charlie McAvoy blocked a cross‑ice pass,forcing the Kraken to the right circle.
3. Kastelic’s positioning – Skating into the neutral zone, he intercepted a clearance and entered the offensive zone on a breakaway.
4. Finish – With the goalie sliding left, Kastelic lifted a wrist shot high on the left post, beating the network camera angle at 44.8 mph.

Key takeaway: The goal underscores the Bruins’ penalty‑kill aggressiveness, a trend that has produced four shorthanded goals in the last 12 games.

3. Statistical Impact of the Sweep

• Series record: Bruins 4–0 vs. Kraken (2022‑2026).
• Points gained: 6 (3‑2 OT win adds a full win plus a bonus point).
• Goal differential: +2 (+3 for boston,–1 for Seattle).
• Power‑play efficiency: Boston 15.4% (2 PP goals / 13 opportunities).
• Penalty‑kill success: 84.6% (11 kills / 13 penalties).

4. Player performance Highlights

• Tyler Kastelic (Boston) – 1 goal (shorthanded), 0 assists; +1 /+2 rating; 12:34 TOI.
• Brad Marchand (Boston) – 1 goal, 1 assist; 9:21 TOI; 2‑minute high‑risk shot.
• Charlie McAvoy (Boston) – 1 assist, 2 blocked shots; 21:07 TOI; +3 rating.
• Jordan Eberle (Seattle) – 1 goal, 0 assists; 15:12 TOI; 2‑minute major penalty.

5. Tactical Insights for Coaches

• Aggressive Penalty Kill: Boston’s decision to pressure the puck carrier rather than retreat deep reduced Seattle’s time‑of‑posession on the power play by 23 seconds.
• Transition Speed: The Bruins averaged 17.2 seconds on counter‑attacks after a penalty, compared with the league average of 21.8 seconds.
• Shot Selection: Boston’s 27 shots on goal (12 on net) featured a 51 % high‑danger rate, reinforcing the value of targeting the slot on the penalty kill.

6. Implications for the Playoff Race

• Boston bruins:
• Move to 3rd place in the Eastern Conference, 4 points ahead of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
• Improve home‑ice advantage odds for a potential first‑round matchup.

• Seattle Kraken:
• Slip to 10th place in the Western Conference, 3 points behind the playoff cutoff.
• Must win at least 4 of the next 6 games to stay in contention.

7.Historical Context: Bruins vs. Kraken

• All‑time record (as of Jan 2026): Boston 112 – Seattle 84.
• Most recent sweep: 2025‑26 season, three‑game series (Jan 3–7).
• Shorthanded goal trend: The Bruins have recorded seven shorthanded goals against Seattle, the highest tally against any single opponent since the 2020‑21 season.

8. Practical Tips for Fans Watching Future Bruins‑Kraken Matchups

1. Watch the penalty‑kill unit: Look for aggressive forechecking; it often leads to turnover opportunities.
2. Track line combinations: Kastelic’s deployment on the third line provides speed on the rush and a defensive presence.
3. Key stats to monitor live:

• Penalty‑kill percentage (aim for >80%).
• Shots from the left‑side circle (high probability for shorthanded attempts).

9. What to Expect in the Next Meeting

• Projected line‑up: Bruins likely to keep Kastelic on the third line, paired with David Pastrnak on the second line for sustained offensive pressure.
• Potential adjustments for Seattle: expect a tighter forecheck to limit Boston’s shorthanded transition, and a focus on neutral‑zone traps to protect the goal line during power plays.

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All statistics sourced from the NHL official game sheet (Jan 16 2026, TD garden) and archived analytics through the NHL Data API.