Bruins extend winning streak with 3rd-period surge past Hurricanes
Casey Mittelstadt scored the opening goal and assisted on Viktor Arvidsson's eventual game-winner, leading the Boston Bruins to a 2-1 win over the visiting Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday afternoon.
The story of the day, by far, is just how surgical the Bruins were all afternoon. Carolina's known for their suffocating, dominant play found themselves without answers on Saturday.
Boston limited everything, sticking to their structure, and ultimately outplayed the Hurricanes en route to the win.
At five-on-five, the Bruins amassed 14 high-danger chances and 30 total scoring chances. The Hurricanes totaled just 7 high-danger looks and 21 scoring chances. They did this without Elias Lindholm in the lineup, too.
The game was scoreless after two periods. Boston netminder Jeremy Swayman (27 saves) made nine stops in each period, holding a shutout until the final three minutes of regulation.
Pure, unfiltered dominance from Boston. Charlie McAvoy and Nikita Zadorov continue to dominate as a pair, just running the ice when they play.
Charlie McAvoy assisted on both goals for Boston, which has won three straight and four of its last five games.
Alexander Nikishin scored the late Hurricanes goal, while Frederik Andersen made 20 saves.
Carolina has lost three of its last four.
The Hurricanes had a 28-22 edge in shots on goal. Both teams were 0-for-1 on the power play.
The Bruins broke the deadlock 1:27 into the third. Mittelstadt cut through center ice and towards the net, where he slotted home a cross-crease pass from McAvoy at the left post. Swayman made a stop on Nikolaj Ehlers at the other end of the ice before the play started.
Arvidsson doubled the Boston lead at 5:05. After a McAvoy blocked shot, Arvidsson flew down the right wing and buried Mittelstadt's lead pass with a top-shelf wrister off the rush.
Nikishin broke Swayman's shutout bid in the waning minutes, burying a slap shot from the high slot through the screen of a Boston defender. Mark Jankowski won the puck and sent a pass out of the right wing corner.
Neither team scored in the first two periods despite a high-event opening frame in which the two goaltenders combined to make 20 saves. Boston had an 11-9 edge in first-period shots.
Carolina's power play more than halfway through the first resulted in quality chances for both sides. After Andersen stopped Mark Kastelic on a shorthanded break-in, Swayman stayed sharp at the other end including a point-blank denial against Jackson Blake.
49ers Linked to Trade for $14 Million 3-Sack Linebacker
The San Francisco 49ers are making some noise in the NFC this season, with the storied franchise being better than expected after the first eight weeks of the 2025 campaign, even with several injuries to key players on both sides of the football.
One of the biggest blows to the team in the first half of the season was the loss of superstar pass rusher Nick Bosa, who suffered a season-ending knee injury. Ever since losing Bosa for the year, the team has been trying to fill the void and will likely address that need ahead of the NFL trade deadline on Nov. 4.
49ers Linked to Trade for Jaelan Phillips
GettyJaelan Phillips #15 of the Miami Dolphins.
Although the 49ers have been linked to Trey Hendrickson of the Cincinnati Bengals, the team seems to be keeping their options open. Another potential trade target for San Francisco is linebacker Jaelen Phillips of the Miami Dolphins, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic.
Miami has received interest from the Eagles, 49ers, Patriots and others on OLB Jaelan Phillips (The Dolphins are looking for at least a third-rounder in return). They’re also getting calls on DE Bradley Chubb and OLB Matthew Judon.
It remains to be seen how aggressive general manager John Lynch and the 49ers’ front office will be in the coming days leading up to the trade deadline, especially after the team recently acquired defensive end Keion White in a deal with the New England Patriots.
However, the team does appear to still be open for business, with Phillips and other potentially in their crosshairs.
Mac Jones Will Start Week 9 Against the Giants
GettyMac Jones #10 of the San Francisco 49ers
With Brock Purdy still not 100 percent due to his big toe inury, the 49ers will once again turn to Mac Jones to shoulder the load under center. It will be the fifth consecutive start for Jones, who will be trying to secure his fifth win as a starter this season.
Even though it appears that Purdy is inching closer and closer to returning as the starter, head coach Kyle Shanahan and his coaching staff are going with a cautious approach with their star quarterback in order to not risk further injury.
So far, Jones has played well as Purdy’s backup-turned-starter. He’s thrown for 1,597 yards, eight touchdowns and five interceptions with a 65.9 completion percentage. Although the interceptions are a little high when compared to the touchdown passes, the former first-round draft pick has played better than expected, especially considering the circumstances.
However, the 49ers have lost three of the last five games, with the team playing in arguably one of the best toughest divisions in football right now. The Seahawks Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams currently sit atop the NFC West division standings with records of 5-2.
There’s no margin for error for the 49ers moving forward, as they’ll need to get every win they can get, especially while they await the return for Purdy, who could get back under center as soon as Week 10 in a crucial divisional showdown with the Rams at Levi’s Stadium.
