The Boston Bruins are facing a turbulent stretch in their season, with interim head coach Joe Sacco under increasing pressure following a disastrous loss to the Ottawa Senators. As the team struggles to maintain its playoff hopes, questions are growing about whether another coaching change is imminent. The Bruins’ woes have been compounded by the loss of team captain Brad Marchand, who is out week-to-week with an upper-body injury
Coaching Decisions Under Fire
Joe Sacco, who took over after Jim Montgomery’s dismissal earlier in the season, is now facing intense scrutiny following Boston’s 6-3 loss to Ottawa. One of the biggest talking points from the game was Sacco’s handling of the goaltending situation. Jeremy Swayman started in net but had a disastrous first period, allowing four goals on just 15 shots. While Sacco eventually pulled Swayman in favor of Joonas Korpisalo, some analysts and fans questioned why the struggling goaltender wasn’t pulled sooner
NESN Bruins reporter Gayle Troiani voiced frustration over Sacco’s decision-making, stating, “I don’t see how Swayman starts the second, but then again, I’m not the coach — interim or otherwise”
This latest goaltending controversy comes after several questionable decisions by Sacco, adding to speculation that Boston’s front office could consider yet another coaching change before the season ends
Playoff Hopes Dwindling
The Bruins’ recent struggles have seen them slip further down the Eastern Conference standings. Entering their upcoming game, Boston holds a 28-26-8 record, trailing both the Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings in the race for the final Wild Card spots. With only a two-point deficit, a playoff push is still possible, but the absence of Marchand makes the challenge significantly more difficult
Marchand, one of Boston’s most crucial offensive weapons, suffered an upper-body injury and is expected to miss multiple weeks. The 36-year-old winger has been a key contributor this season, ranking second on the team in scoring behind David Pastrňák. With 21 goals and 26 assists in 61 games, his absence leaves a major void in the Bruins’ attack
Marchand’s injury also affects Boston’s strategy as the NHL trade deadline approaches. Playing in the final year of his contract, Marchand was at the center of speculation about a potential trade. However, with his injury, that possibility now seems unlikely
Goaltending Woes and Defensive Struggles
Boston’s struggles in goal have been a recurring theme this season. Swayman, despite some strong performances earlier in the year, has had consistency issues since signing a new contract. His recent poor outing against Ottawa wasn’t an isolated incident—earlier in the season, a costly decision against the Senators resulted in a devastating shootout loss after Swayman attempted to score an empty-net goal, leading to an equalizer by Ottawa’s Josh Norris
Korpisalo, who replaced Swayman in the Ottawa game, performed marginally better but still allowed two goals, further highlighting the Bruins’ defensive vulnerabilities. Sacco admitted after the game that the team’s execution was lacking, saying, “We just weren’t good enough in most of the facets in the first period… Our execution wasn’t quite there, we weren’t sharp, our passing was off”
With only 15 games remaining in the regular season, time is running out for the Bruins to salvage their playoff hopes. The team’s inconsistent play and mounting injuries have led some insiders to speculate whether another coaching change could be on the horizon
Sacco’s tenure as interim coach has been rocky, and while some of Boston’s struggles stem from injuries and roster limitations, his decision-making has faced sharp criticism. If the Bruins continue to falter, management may be forced to reconsider their coaching situation before the season concludes.
The Bruins’ upcoming schedule presents a tough challenge, with matchups against playoff contenders that will test their resilience. If they fail to turn things around, the pressure on Sacco will only intensify, and a shake-up could be inevitable.