The Providence Bruins are having an excellent 2025-26 season so far, as they have a 21-5-1 record and are in second place in the AHL's Atlantic Division. One of the many reasons for Providence's success this campaign has been the strong play of Boston Bruins prospect Georgii Merkulov.

The Edmonton Oilers will host the Boston Bruins on New Year's Eve to close 2025 and the most challenging chapter of their season, giving way to a heavy home schedule in January and early February that will include 12 of their next 18 games at Rogers Place before the start of the NHL's Olympic break.

The Edmonton Oilers (20-14-6) and Connor McDavid (24 goals and 45 assists) host the Boston Bruins (20-18-2) and Morgan Geekie (25 goals and 15 assists) at Rogers Place on Wednesday, Dec. 31 at 9:30 p.m. ET, airing on ESPN+. Edmonton secured a 3-1 road victory against the Winnipeg Jets in its last game on Dec. 29.

Boston Bruins prospect James Hagens, a forward from Hauppauge, New York, who was drafted in June at No. 7 overall out of Boston College, scored twice in a 1:03 span on Monday night, and Team USA edged Slovakia 6-5 in the world junior hockey championship.

The Bruins have skidded to sixth in the Atlantic and out of the top eight in the East. They need to right the ship quickly post-break.

The Boston Bruins will not be home again until 2026, but before 2025 concludes, they open a five-game road trip that starts on Saturday, Dec. 27 against the Buffalo Sabres at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y.

The Bruins have lost six straight games, but the future is bright thanks to prospects James Hagens and Will Zellers, who are shining at the World Juniors.

His team mired in a six-game losing streak, the Bruins coach presided over a spirited practice aimed at rekindling the fire his team has flashed this season.