Hockey is weird. One year you're hoisting a silver cup in your opponent's building, and the next you're grinding through a Tuesday night in December just trying to keep your head above water. When the St Louis Blues vs Bruins matchup pops up on the calendar, it’s impossible not to feel that 2019 ghost lingering in the rafters. It doesn't matter that the rosters look completely different or that the standings tell a story of two teams heading in opposite directions.
The vibes are just different.
Honestly, if you look at the recent 2025-26 season series, the Bruins have basically had the Blues' number. They swept the two December meetings with identical 5-2 scores. But scores are just numbers. What actually happened on the ice was a lot more chaotic than a three-goal margin suggests.
The 2019 Hangover That Never Quite Left
Most people think a rivalry dies when the players move on. Not this one. Even though guys like Vladimir Tarasenko and Zdeno Chara are long gone, the fanbases still treat every hit like it’s Game 7.
In the 2019 Stanley Cup Finals, the Blues did the unthinkable. They were in last place in January and then went into TD Garden and took the Cup home in seven games. Bruins fans haven't forgotten that. You can hear it in the Garden every time a St. Louis player touches the puck. It’s a specific kind of saltiness that only comes from losing a championship at home.
The historical record actually favors Boston significantly. All-time, the Bruins have won 74 games against the Blues' 44 (with some ties and overtime losses sprinkled in). But St. Louis has the one stat that matters: that 2019 banner.
What Really Happened in the 2025 Matchups
If you watched the December 9, 2025 game at Enterprise Center, you saw a microcosm of why the Blues are struggling while the Bruins keep humming along. Robert Thomas is doing everything he can. He netted two goals that night, looking like the elite center the Blues signed him to be.
But then there's the Bruins’ depth.
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Fraser Minten and Mark Kastelic? Not exactly the names you expect to see lighting up the scoreboard for Boston, yet they both had two-goal games. It’s that "next man up" culture that Jim Montgomery—ironically a former Blues player and now the Blues' head coach after his stint in Boston—has had to deal with from the opposite bench.
The line shuffling in Boston has been wild lately. Coach Marco Sturm even dropped David Pastrnak to the third line recently just to spark something. It worked. Pastrnak came back from injury and immediately started racking up assists, proving that even a "slumping" Pasta is better than 90% of the league.
Why the Blues Are Stuck in the Mud
Let's talk about the elephant in the room. The Blues' defense is... well, it’s a work in progress.
They’ve leaned hard on guys like Colton Parayko and Justin Faulk, but the goals-against average is ugly. In that December 4 loss at TD Garden, Jordan Binnington allowed five goals on just 27 shots. You can't win like that. The Blues have some bright spots, like Dylan Holloway and the young Dalibor Dvorsky, but they are clearly in a "retooling" phase that feels a lot like a rebuild.
- Blues Goal Scoring: Currently 32nd in the league. That’s last, if you’re counting.
- Bruins Depth: Mark Kastelic and Sean Kuraly are essentially playing "bully ball" on the fourth line.
- The Coaching Factor: Jim Montgomery facing his old team adds a layer of "prove it" energy that usually leads to a lot of post-whistle chirping.
The Physicality Factor
One thing that hasn't changed since 1970 (another time these two met in the Finals) is the hitting. In their most recent game, the Blues out-hit the Bruins 30-26. They’re trying to use that heavy, Forecastle-style hockey that won them the Cup, but the NHL has gotten faster.
The Bruins have adapted. They brought in Nikita Zadorov to handle the heavy lifting, but they’re beating the Blues with transition speed. When the Blues turn the puck over—which they did 14 times in their last meeting—the Bruins are gone.
Key Matchups to Watch Moving Forward
If you're betting on or just watching the next time these two clash, keep an eye on the special teams. The Blues’ power play has been a rare bright spot, often led by Robert Thomas and Pavel Buchnevich. But their penalty kill? It's a sieve.
Conversely, the Bruins are playing a very disciplined game. They’ve managed to integrate new faces like Viktor Arvidsson and Elias Lindholm without losing that "Perfection Line" era identity. Even with Charlie McAvoy dealing with injuries, their blueline, led by Mason Lohrei and Hampus Lindholm, looks miles ahead of St. Louis.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you’re following this matchup, don’t just look at the win-loss column. Look at the High-Danger Chances. The Blues actually outshot Boston 39-27 in their early December game but still lost 5-2. That tells you two things:
- The Blues are settling for "soft" shots from the perimeter.
- Boston’s goaltending (Swayman and Korpisalo) is masking a lot of defensive lapses.
For the Blues to turn it around: They need more from Jordan Kyrou. He’s got the talent to be a 40-goal scorer, but he disappears for stretches. Pairing him with Robert Thomas is the only way to ignite that offense.
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For the Bruins to stay on top: They need to keep their veterans healthy. The injury list with McAvoy and Pastrnak has been a concern. If they can get through the mid-season grind without losing another top-six forward, they’re locks for a deep run.
Check the injury reports 24 hours before puck drop. With both teams dealing with "undisclosed" lower-body issues for key stars, the lineup you see on paper Tuesday morning is rarely the one that takes the ice at 7:00 PM. Keep an eye on the waiver wire too; the Blues are in a position where they might start shipping out veteran depth for picks if they don't climb back into the Wild Card race by the trade deadline.