The 2025-26 NHL season continues with an interconference clash between the Vancouver Canucks and the Boston Bruins, pitting a rebuilding Canucks squad against a Bruins team fighting for playoff positioning in the Atlantic Division. Vancouver, plagued by injuries and inconsistency, enters as underdogs looking to steal a road win, while Boston aims to leverage its home-ice advantage and veteran leadership to extend its recent success. With both teams emphasizing physical play and special teams, this evening matchup could turn on goaltending and timely scoring, offering fans a glimpse of classic East-West hockey.
Venue Location
The game will be held at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. This historic arena, with a capacity of 17,565, has been the Bruins’ home since 1995 and is renowned for its passionate crowds and iconic banners.
Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET. The game will be broadcast on NHL Network, with local feeds on Sportsnet Pacific for Canucks fans and NESN for Bruins viewers. Streaming options include ESPN+.
Team Records
Vancouver Canucks: 13-17-3 (29 points), 7th in the Pacific Division.
Boston Bruins: 20-15-0 (40 points), 4th in the Atlantic Division.
Recent Team Forms
Vancouver has hit a rough patch, going 1-4-0 in their last five games, including a recent loss to the New York Islanders on December 19. Earlier defeats came against teams like the Tampa Bay Lightning and others, with the Canucks averaging 2.2 goals for and 3.8 against. Their power play has sputtered at 18%, and penalty kill at 78%, highlighting defensive vulnerabilities and a lack of secondary scoring amid injuries.
Boston, meanwhile, has been more consistent, posting a 3-2-0 record in their last five, capped by a win over the Edmonton Oilers on December 18. They previously defeated the Utah Mammoth and Winnipeg Jets, averaging 3.4 goals for and 2.6 against. The Bruins’ power play sits at 22%, with a solid penalty kill at 84%, driven by veteran contributions despite some injury concerns.
| Team | Last 5 Games | Streak | Goals For/Against (Last 5) | PP% (Season) | PK% (Season) |
| Vancouver Canucks | 1-4-0 | L2 | 11/19 | 19.5% | 79.8% |
| Boston Bruins | 3-2-0 | W1 | 17/13 | 21.2% | 82.4% |
Series History
The Bruins hold a commanding all-time regular-season edge over the Canucks, leading 83-40 in 138 meetings, with Boston winning 49 of 69 at home. In playoffs, they famously met in the 2011 Stanley Cup Final, where Boston prevailed in seven games. Recently, Vancouver has a 4-6-0 record in the last 10 head-to-heads, with games averaging 5.4 goals. The home team has won 6 of those 10. This is the first of two scheduled matchups this season, with a rematch later in 2026.
Injury Report
Vancouver Canucks: Center Elias Pettersson (Out – Upper-body injury, on IR; has missed recent games and status indefinite). Center Teddy Blueger (Out – IR, undisclosed). The Canucks’ top-line production is hampered, forcing reliance on depth players like J.T. Miller.
Boston Bruins: Defenseman Jonathan Aspirot (Out – Upper-body injury). Forward Viktor Arvidsson (Out – Lower-body injury). Defenseman Charlie McAvoy (Out – Jaw/facial surgery, healing but sidelined). The Bruins’ blue line is thinned, but core forwards like Brad Marchand remain available.
Player Matchups
This game showcases compelling individual battles, with Vancouver’s speed testing Boston’s physicality:
J.T. Miller (VAN, C) vs. Brad Marchand (BOS, LW): Miller (15 goals, 22 assists) steps up as Vancouver’s leader with Pettersson out, facing Marchand’s agitating style (12 goals, 18 assists) in a gritty forward matchup.
Quinn Hughes (VAN, D) vs. David Pastrnak (BOS, RW): Hughes (8 goals, 28 assists, elite puck-moving) must contain Pastrnak’s sniping (18 goals, 20 assists), a key offensive-defensive duel.
Brock Boeser (VAN, RW) vs. Charlie Coyle (BOS, C): Boeser (14 goals) brings scoring punch, tested by Coyle’s two-way play (10 goals, strong faceoffs at 51%).
Thatcher Demko (VAN, G) vs. Jeremy Swayman (BOS, G): Demko (expected starter; 2.75 GAA) vs. Swayman (2.45 GAA), where Boston’s edge in net could limit Vancouver’s shots.
Boston’s experience gives them the upper hand in most pairings.
Betting Trends
As of December 19, Boston is a moderate home favorite. Key lines include Bruins moneyline (-180), Canucks (+150), puck line Bruins -1.5 (+140), total O/U 5.5 (over -110). Trends: Bruins are 3-2 straight up in their last five and 4-1 ATS at home; over has hit in 3 of Boston’s last 5. Canucks are 1-4 straight up in their last five and 2-3 ATS on the road; under has cashed in 4 of Vancouver’s last 6. Head-to-head, Bruins are 6-4 straight up in the last 10, with unders in 6 of 10. League-wide, unders hit 52% in December interconference games.
Game Odds
Vancouver Canucks 5.5
Boston Bruins – 162
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, December 19, 2025
