Bruins facing another early-season disturbing narrative after abysmal performance
On Tuesday night, the NHL Frozen Frenzy returns for a third consecutive season, with all 32 teams participating in games that start at 6 p.m. For the Boston Bruins and their fans, it's hard to get excited for a night filled with hockey when the Black and Gold enter as losers of six of their last seven games the way they have.
For the second time in three games, the Bruins allowed seven goals in a 7-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Monday night on the road. It was a long bus ride to the airport and an even longer flight home from Canada.
Boston's season is spiraling out of control just 11 games into the season, as they are already at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. Monday's effort was a reminder of just how bad things were last season. We are heading down that road once again.
Bruins face important bounce-back game against Islanders on Tuesday night
It's the 12th game of the season for the Bruins on Tuesday night against the New York Islanders, and it is already another bounce-back game for the 2025-26 Boston Bruins. That's right, game 12, and we're already doing this this year, again.
Boston will be coming off another game where they allowed seven goals, this time to the Senators, four days after allowing seven to the Anaheim Ducks. After the loss to Anaheim, they had a day of practice to go over video and work on things on the ice. They don't have that luxury against the Islanders, who were resting in their hotel in Boston while the Bruins were getting steamrolled by the Sens.
For the second time in three days, the Bruins were at a loss for words after the game in Ottawa. That's not a good sign, and an even worse sign is when coach Marco Sturm is calling out players on the NESN broadcast following the game.
It's early in the year, but this feels like a game where the Bruins will tell us a lot about the rest of the season, either they're in or a free-fall this year is incoming quicker than fans thought it might. It is once again gut-check time early in a frustrating season.
Steelers Get Additional Bad News With More Injury Updates
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Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin told reporters safety Deshon Elliott will miss the Week 9 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have major things to fix on defense entering Week 9. But the Steelers will have to do it without safety DeShon Elliott.
In his weekly Tuesday press conference, head coach Mike Tomlin ruled out Elliott for Sunday’s matchup against the Indianapolis Colts.
“Elliott could be declared out this week also with his hyperextended knee,” Tomlin told reporters.
Elliott appeared to hyperextend his leg while trying to tackle Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft in the second half Sunday night. Elliott’s foot was caught under another player, which caused his leg to bend the wrong way.
The veteran safety left the game and didn’t return. NBC sideline reporter Melissa Stark reported Elliott appeared very emotional while entering the locker room.
In five games this season, Elliott has posted 38 combined tackles, including one tackle for loss. He also has one interception, two pass defenses, three quarterback hits and a forced fumble.
Steelers’ Deshon Elliott Out in Week 9 vs. Colts
When asked to provide clarification on Elliott’s status, Tomlin answered Tuesday the veteran safety can be considered week-to-week.
One could argue that’s actually good news. Based on the nature of Elliott’s injury and his reaction to it, pundits expected it to be a lot worse.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler also reported Monday that Elliott could be out for the remainder of 2025.
“The Steelers are bracing for safety DeShon Elliott to miss the rest of the season, per sources,” Fowler wrote on X. “His ACL is intact, and he’s working through the nature of the leg injury, so Pittsburgh will hold out hope, but a return is not considered likely at this point.”
The Steelers are bracing for safety DeShon Elliott to miss the rest of the season, per sources. His ACL is intact and he’s working through the nature of the leg injury, so Pittsburgh will hold out hope, but a return is not considered likely at this point.
Tomlin, though, made it clear Tuesday that he didn’t have early expectations that Elliott would be out for a significant time.
“I didn’t have any preconceived notions,” Tomlin told the media. “I just always have learned over the years to wait on clarify from the medical experts. So I don’t know if I had a perception.”
Without preconceive notions that Elliott could be out for the year, it’s disappointing the safety will be sidelined for a period of time. The Steelers will particularly miss Elliott this week against the Colts.
How Steelers Replace Elliott in Week 9
The Steelers have already played two games this season without Elliott. He missed both of those contests because of a different knee injury.
In those two games, Juan Thornhill, Chuck Clark and Jabrill Peppers played a majority of the snaps for the Steelers at safety.
Those three safeties are in line for bigger roles during Week 9. According to the Pro Football Focus player grades, Clark played the best Sunday against the Packers. Thornhill, though, has the most experience in the Steelers defense.
The organization is also looking at the free agent market for additional depth. Tomlin told reporters the Steelers plan to work out safeties Vonn Bell and Eddie Jackson on Tuesday.
Steelers working out former Bengals S Vonn Bell and former Ravens S Eddie Jackson today, according to Mike Tomlin.
Whoever is playing safety for the Steelers this weekend will have their hands full.
The Colts are first in points scored and yards in the league. Indianapolis is also ranked in the top 10 in rushing and passing yards.
The Steelers will need their safeties to help slow down All-Pro running back Jonathan Taylor. Tomlin’s unit must also do a much better job of covering tight ends.
Rookie tight end Tyler Warren leads the Colts with 492 receiving yards.
