Welcome back to Play by Play, where we break down the game beyond the highlights.
This week, we’re tackling one of the most frustrating—and fixable—aspects of the Bruins’ 2024–25 campaign: the power play. Despite elite talent, Boston’s man advantage ranked 29th in the league. So what went wrong? From formation choices to personnel usage, this article dives into the philosophy, patterns, and missed opportunities that defined a forgettable special teams season—and what needs to change in 2025–26.

Let’s Talk Personnel

The Bruins have no shortage of talent, but questions remain about how those players are used.

• David Pastrňák remains the centerpiece of the man advantage. He’s armed with a deadly one-timer from the left circle, but his game has grown to include off-the-wall rushes and quick-release wrist shots that catch goalies leaning. The problem? For a long stretch, he was Boston’s only consistent weapon. Opposing penalty kills keyed in on him, cutting off his lanes and overloading his side to neutralize his impact.

• Elias Lindholm brought a steady playmaking presence, finishing third on the team in power play points with 14 — 12 of them being assists. He showed a good feel for distributing the puck, but the question remains: is he being put in the best spot to drive chances?

• Mason Lohrei has emerged as a potential quarterback on the back end. He has the poise and puck-moving instincts to manage the point, but as a young player, there are still moments where decision-making under pressure can stall momentum.

• Pavel Zacha spent much of his time in the bumper position. While he facilitated puck movement and found open space well, his inability to consistently finish — especially in tight — hurt the Bruins in key moments. The lack of a shooting threat in that spot allowed penalty kills to collapse more freely on Pastrňák and the half-wall, knowing Zacha was unlikely to make them pay.

The bigger issue? Stagnation. Too often, Boston’s power play relies on perimeter passing with little net-front presence or movement. The bumper position has rotated inconsistently, and zone entries can look rushed or disconnected.

Whether this is a coaching issue or a roster chemistry problem is still up for debate — but something isn’t clicking.

Matchups Matter: Who You’re Up Against Counts

It’s easy to talk power play in a vacuum, but the penalty kill matters just as much. Some teams, like Carolina or Florida, attack on the kill — forcing quick decisions and punishing hesitation.

The Bruins have struggled in these scenarios. When facing aggressive PK units, their zone entries become scattered, and possession is lost before setup is even possible.

Strategic deployment also plays a role. Are the right PP units going out against tired defenders? Are they winning faceoffs to control the first 10–15 seconds of zone time? These subtleties matter.

Missed Opportunities: Where Boston Broke Down

In the 2024–25 season, Boston’s power play finished 29th out of 32 teams — a staggering statistic for a club with so much offensive talent. But the numbers don’t tell the whole story. The eye test showed a unit that lacked urgency, creativity, and cohesion.

Inconsistency plagued the group all year. Poor shot selection, static positioning, and a predictable setup allowed opposing penalty kills to settle in and smother chances. Even with elite players on the ice, the Bruins often failed to generate high-danger looks or sustain meaningful pressure.

There were flashes of brilliance — but they were often followed by long droughts. The team never found a true identity with the man advantage.

Whether it's about better coaching adjustments, more defined roles, or integrating new personnel, something has to change heading into the 2025–26 campaign.

Your turn—what’s your dream Bruins power play unit?

Drop your thoughts in the comments: Who should run the point? Who belongs in the bumper? And what system would you use to revive the man advantage next season?
If you enjoyed this breakdown, be sure to check out the companion episode of Play by Play on the pod feed. And as always, thanks for reading. Let’s fix this thing together.