2020–21 Boston Bruins season explained

The 2020–21 Boston Bruins season was the 97th season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on November 1, 1924.[1] The Bruins entered the season as defending Presidents' Trophy and Atlantic Division champions. On December 20, 2020, the league temporarily realigned into four divisions with no conferences due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing closure of the Canada–United States border. As a result of this realignment, the Bruins played this season in the East Division, only facing opponents from within the new division in a shortened 56-game regular season, and the first two rounds of the playoffs.

On March 25, spectators were allowed back into the TD Garden with a limited capacity of 2,200. This was the first time fans were in attendance at a Bruins home game since March 7th of the previous year.[2] The capacity at the Garden was increased to 25% on May 10.[3] Starting May 29, the venue was able to host fans at full capacity.[4]

On May 3, the Bruins clinched a playoff berth after a 3–0 win against the New Jersey Devils.[5] In the playoffs, they eliminated the Washington Capitals in the first round in five games.[6] The Bruins would lose to the New York Islanders in the second round in six games.[7]

Standings

Divisional standings

Schedule and results

Regular season

The regular season schedule was published on December 23, 2020.[8]

2020–21 game log
Legend:

Playoffs

See main article: 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs.

2021 Stanley Cup playoffs
Legend:

Draft picks

See also: List of Boston Bruins draft picks. Below are the Boston Bruins' selections at the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, which was originally scheduled for June 26–27, 2020 at the Bell Center in Montreal, Quebec, but was postponed on March 25, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The rescheduled draft was held October 6–7, 2020 virtually via Video conference call from the NHL Network studio in Secaucus, New Jersey.

RoundPlayerPosNationalityCollege/Junior/Club team (League)
258Mason LohreiD United StatesGreen Bay Gamblers (USHL)
389Trevor KuntarC United StatesBoston College (H-East)
5151Mason LangenbrunnerD United StatesEden Prairie (USHS-MN)
6182Riley DuranC United StatesLawrence Academy (USHS-MA)

Notes and References

  1. Book: National Hockey League. The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book/2014. 2013. Diamond Sports Data, Inc.. 25. 978-1-894801-26-3.
  2. Web site: Fans Return to TD Garden for First Time Since Start of Pandemic . nbcboston.com . May 31, 2021 . March 25, 2021.
  3. Web site: Crowd Capacity Set to Increase at TD Garden, Fenway Park . nbcboston.com . May 31, 2021 . May 9, 2021.
  4. Web site: Red Sox, Bruins Can Host Fans At Full Capacity Beginning May 29 . boston.cbslocal.com . May 31, 2021 . May 17, 2021.
  5. Web site: Bruins shut out Devils, clinch final playoff berth in East . NHL.com . May 3, 2021 . May 3, 2021.
  6. Web site: Bruins win Game 5, eliminate Capitals in first round . NHL.com . June 5, 2021 . May 23, 2021.
  7. Web site: Compton . Brian . Islanders eliminate Bruins with Game 6 win, advance to Semifinals . NHL.com . June 9, 2021 . June 9, 2021.
  8. Web site: 2020-21 NHL schedule announced . NHL.com . December 26, 2020 . December 23, 2020.
  9. Web site: Boston Bruins - New Jersey Devils - January 14th, 2021. NHL.com.
  10. Web site: Boston Bruins - New Jersey Devils - January 16th, 2021. NHL.com.
  11. Web site: Boston Bruins - New York Islanders - January 18th, 2021. NHL.com.
  12. Web site: Philadelphia Flyers - Boston Bruins - January 21st, 2021. NHL.com.
  13. Web site: Philadelphia Flyers - Boston Bruins - January 23rd, 2021. NHL.com.
  14. Web site: Pittsburgh Penguins - Boston Bruins - January 26th, 2021. NHL.com.
  15. Web site: Pittsburgh Penguins - Boston Bruins - January 28th, 2021. NHL.com.
  16. Web site: Boston Bruins - Washington Capitals - January 30th, 2021. NHL.com.
  17. Web site: Boston Bruins - Washington Capitals - February 1st, 2021. NHL.com.
  18. Web site: Boston Bruins - Philadelphia Flyers - February 3rd, 2021. NHL.com.
  19. Web site: Boston Bruins - Philadelphia Flyers - February 5th, 2021. NHL.com.
  20. Web site: Sabres games postponed through Monday due to NHL COVID-19 protocol . NHL.com . February 2, 2021 . February 2, 2021.
  21. Web site: Boston Bruins - New York Rangers - February 10th, 2021. NHL.com.
  22. Web site: Boston Bruins - New York Rangers - February 12th, 2021. NHL.com.
  23. Web site: Boston Bruins - New York Islanders - February 13th, 2021. NHL.com.
  24. Web site: NHL postpones additional Devils, Sabres, Wild games due to COVID-19 . NHL.com . February 8, 2021 . February 8, 2021.
  25. Web site: NHL announces updates to regular-season schedule . NHL.com . February 17, 2021 . February 16, 2021.
  26. Web site: New Jersey Devils - Boston Bruins - February 18th, 2021. NHL.com.
  27. Web site: Philadelphia Flyers - Boston Bruins - February 21st, 2021. NHL.com.
  28. Web site: Boston Bruins - New York Islanders - February 25th, 2021. NHL.com.
  29. Web site: Boston Bruins - New York Rangers - February 26th, 2021. NHL.com.
  30. Web site: Boston Bruins - New York Rangers - February 28th, 2021. NHL.com.
  31. Web site: Washington Capitals - Boston Bruins - March 3rd, 2021. NHL.com.
  32. Web site: Washington Capitals - Boston Bruins - March 5th, 2021. NHL.com.
  33. Web site: New Jersey Devils - Boston Bruins - March 7th, 2021. NHL.com.
  34. Web site: Boston Bruins - New York Islanders - March 9th, 2021. NHL.com.
  35. Web site: New York Rangers - Boston Bruins - March 11th, 2021. NHL.com.
  36. Web site: New York Rangers - Boston Bruins - March 13th, 2021. NHL.com.
  37. Web site: Boston Bruins - Pittsburgh Penguins - March 15th, 2021. NHL.com.
  38. Web site: Boston Bruins - Pittsburgh Penguins - March 16th, 2021. NHL.com.
  39. Web site: Boston Bruins - Buffalo Sabres - March 18th, 2021. NHL.com.
  40. Web site: Bruins have two games postponed; four players added to COVID-19 protocol . NHL.com . March 19, 2021 . March 19, 2021.
  41. Web site: NHL announces updates to 2020-21 regular-season schedule . NHL.com . March 28, 2021 . March 28, 2021.
  42. Web site: New York Islanders - Boston Bruins - March 25th, 2021. NHL.com.
  43. Web site: Buffalo Sabres - Boston Bruins - March 27th, 2021. NHL.com.
  44. Web site: New Jersey Devils - Boston Bruins - March 28th, 2021. NHL.com.
  45. Web site: New Jersey Devils - Boston Bruins - March 30th, 2021. NHL.com.
  46. Web site: Pittsburgh Penguins - Boston Bruins - April 1st, 2021. NHL.com.
  47. Web site: Pittsburgh Penguins - Boston Bruins - April 3rd, 2021. NHL.com.
  48. Web site: Philadelphia Flyers - Boston Bruins - April 5th, 2021. NHL.com.
  49. Web site: Boston Bruins - Philadelphia Flyers - April 6th, 2021. NHL.com.
  50. Web site: Boston Bruins - Washington Capitals - April 8th, 2021. NHL.com.
  51. Web site: Boston Bruins - Philadelphia Flyers - April 10th, 2021. NHL.com.
  52. Web site: Washington Capitals - Boston Bruins - April 11th, 2021. NHL.com.
  53. Web site: Buffalo Sabres - Boston Bruins - April 13th, 2021. NHL.com.
  54. Web site: New York Islanders - Boston Bruins - April 15th, 2021. NHL.com.
  55. Web site: New York Islanders - Boston Bruins - April 16th, 2021. NHL.com.
  56. Web site: Washington Capitals - Boston Bruins - April 18th, 2021. NHL.com.
  57. Web site: Boston Bruins - Buffalo Sabres - April 20th, 2021. NHL.com.
  58. Web site: Boston Bruins - Buffalo Sabres - April 22nd, 2021. NHL.com.
  59. Web site: Boston Bruins - Buffalo Sabres - April 23rd, 2021. NHL.com.
  60. Web site: Boston Bruins - Pittsburgh Penguins - April 25th, 2021. NHL.com.
  61. Web site: Boston Bruins - Pittsburgh Penguins - April 27th, 2021. NHL.com.
  62. Web site: Buffalo Sabres - Boston Bruins - April 29th, 2021. NHL.com.
  63. Web site: Buffalo Sabres - Boston Bruins - May 1st, 2021. NHL.com.
  64. Web site: Boston Bruins - New Jersey Devils - May 3rd, 2021. NHL.com.
  65. Web site: Boston Bruins - New Jersey Devils - May 4th, 2021. NHL.com.
  66. Web site: New York Rangers - Boston Bruins - May 6th, 2021. NHL.com.
  67. Web site: New York Rangers - Boston Bruins - May 8th, 2021. NHL.com.
  68. Web site: New York Islanders - Boston Bruins - May 10th, 2021. NHL.com.
  69. Web site: Boston Bruins - Washington Capitals - May 11th, 2021. NHL.com.
  70. Web site: Boston Bruins - Washington Capitals - May 15th, 2021. NHL.com.
  71. Web site: Boston Bruins - Washington Capitals - May 17th, 2021. NHL.com.
  72. Web site: Washington Capitals - Boston Bruins - May 19th, 2021. NHL.com.
  73. Web site: Washington Capitals - Boston Bruins - May 21st, 2021. NHL.com.
  74. Web site: Boston Bruins - Washington Capitals - May 23rd, 2021. NHL.com.
  75. Web site: New York Islanders - Boston Bruins - May 29th, 2021. NHL.com.
  76. Web site: New York Islanders - Boston Bruins - May 31st, 2021. NHL.com.
  77. Web site: Boston Bruins - New York Islanders - June 3rd, 2021. NHL.com.
  78. Web site: Boston Bruins - New York Islanders - June 5th, 2021. NHL.com.
  79. Web site: New York Islanders - Boston Bruins - June 7th, 2021. NHL.com.
  80. Web site: Boston Bruins - New York Islanders - June 9th, 2021. NHL.com.