Fraser Minten was the Boston Bruins' third-line center when the 2026-27 season began, but you had a feeling that he wasn't going to stay there long. In fact, he stayed there just four games into the new campaign before he was bumped up to the second line for the last three games, beginning last week against the Utah Mammoth.
He has played very well since getting bumped up in the lineup, and on Tuesday night, he scored two goals in a 6-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks. In seven games, he has four goals and three assists. Right now, things are going into the net for him, which is huge, according to coach Marco Sturm.
“The way he plays and thinks the game is very impressive at his age. We try to push him every day,” Sturm said. “It always goes back to being at the right spot at the right time. I think that is it. Playing so smart, I think he’s going to get the opportunities. And right now, they go in.”
Sturm didn't want to put numbers on Minten as a 1C or 2C, but having him succeed in the top six right now is vital for the Black and Gold. He is playing in all situations for Sturm, and just a friendly reminder that he signed a seven-year extension this past summer with an AAV of $7.2 million.
Matthew Poitras scores again
Since going into the lineup as the fourth-line center, which bumped out veteran Sean Kuraly, Matthew Poitras has been making it tough- very tough for Sturm to take him out of the lineup. Centering Tanner Jeannot and Mark Kastelic, Poitras brings speed, playmaking, and production to that line.
In the win over San Jose, he scored in the second period when he banged home a loose puck in front of the Sharks' net as goalie Yaroslov Askarov had no idea where the puck was. It was Poitras second goal in three games after he scored in last Thursday's win over the Mammoth. Kuraly is likely upset that he's being scratched for Poitras, but Sturm has no choice but to do it.
Goalie decision on tap for Marco Sturm
As a coach, you want to tide the hot hand when it comes to goalies, I get it, but Sturm is going to have a decision to make over the next couple of days in terms of when to give Michael DiPietro his second start of the season this upcoming weekend.
Jeremy Swayman improved to 5-1-0 on Tuesday night with 35 saves in the win over the Sharks, and the Black and Gold have a back-to-back coming up beginning Friday night in Southern California. They visit the Anaheim Ducks on Friday and the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday. Which one does Swayman get off, if any?
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