Bruins vs. Senators: November 6, 2025 Game Preview

The Ottawa Senators travel to TD Garden on November 6, 2025, to face the Boston Bruins in what promises to be an Atlantic Division clash with contrasting momentum. The Bruins enter riding a four-game winning streak and sitting at 8-7-0, while the Senators come in at 6-5-2 after dropping two of their last three games, including a disappointing overtime loss to Montreal. Both teams have undergone significant lineup adjustments due to injuries, making the projected lineups for this Wednesday evening matchup particularly intriguing for fans and analysts alike.

With puck drop scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET on NESN, TSN5, and RDS2, this game features two teams heading in opposite directions. Boston has found a rhythm after a sluggish start to the season, while Ottawa continues to struggle with special teams, particularly on the penalty kill where they rank dead last in the NHL. The absence of key players on both sides adds another layer of complexity to this matchup.

Ottawa Senators projected lineup for November 6, 2025

The Senators will be without their captain and emotional leader, Brady Tkachuk, who remains sidelined following thumb surgery. This marks another game where Ottawa must find ways to generate offense and physicality without their heart-and-soul player. Head coach Travis Green has shuffled his forward lines to compensate for Tkachuk’s absence, creating some intriguing combinations.

Up front, Nick Cousins will center the top line alongside Tim Stutzle and Drake Batherson. This trio represents Ottawa’s primary offensive threat, with Stutzle contributing 14 points and Batherson leading the team with 15 points on the season. The German center has been a catalyst for the Senators’ attack, and his chemistry with Batherson has been one of the few consistent bright spots in Ottawa’s campaign thus far.

The second line features Ridly Greig centering Dylan Cozens and David Perron. This combination brings a blend of youth and veteran experience, with Perron’s playoff pedigree potentially valuable in tight games. The third line sees Michael Amadio flanked by Shane Pinto at center and the ageless Claude Giroux on the wing. Giroux, despite being in the twilight of his career, continues to provide leadership and two-way reliability. The fourth line will consist of Kurtis MacDermid, Lars Eller, and Fabian Zetterlund, offering a mix of grit and depth scoring.

On the blue line, Jake Sanderson will pair with Artem Zub on the top defensive pairing. Sanderson has emerged as a cornerstone piece for Ottawa’s future, bringing mobility and offensive instincts from the back end. The second pairing features Thomas Chabot alongside Nick Jensen, while Tyler Kleven and Nikolas Matinpalo round out the third pairing. This defensive configuration gives the Senators size and skating ability, though their penalty kill struggles suggest systemic issues beyond personnel.

Between the pipes, Linus Ullmark gets the start against his former team. The veteran netminder knows the Bruins’ tendencies well, having spent time in Boston’s organization. Backing him up will be Leevi Merilainen, who was recalled from Belleville of the AHL to replace Hunter Shepard. The Senators will be without Olle Lycksell and Jordan Spence, who are listed as healthy scratches.

Boston Bruins projected lineup for November 6, 2025

The Bruins come into this contest with momentum after defeating the New York Islanders 4-3 in a shootout. Their four-game winning streak has steadied the ship after an inconsistent start to the campaign. However, injuries have forced Boston to make some creative lineup decisions.

The forward group has undergone significant restructuring due to Elias Lindholm’s lower-body injury. Morgan Geekie will skate on the top line with Marat Khusnutdinov and David Pastrnak. Pastrnak leads all Bruins with 18 points and remains the offensive engine that drives Boston’s attack. His elite shot and hockey IQ make him a constant threat, and he’ll be looking to extend his production against a struggling Ottawa penalty kill unit.

The second line features Casey Mittelstadt at center with Pavel Zacha and Viktor Arvidsson on the wings. Zacha has been Boston’s second-most productive forward with 13 points, providing reliable two-way play. Similar to their recent matchup between the Bruins and Senators on October 27, 2025, the depth combinations will be crucial in determining the outcome. The third line consists of Tanner Jeannot, Fraser Minten, and Mark Kastelic, while Johnny Beecher, Sean Kuraly, and Michael Eyssimont round out the fourth unit. This bottom-six configuration prioritizes defensive responsibility and forechecking intensity.

Defensively, Nikita Zadorov anchors the top pairing alongside Charlie McAvoy. McAvoy has been Boston’s most impactful defenseman on both ends of the ice, contributing offensively while providing shutdown defense against opponents’ top lines. The second pairing features Hampus Lindholm with Andrew Peeke, while Jonathan Aspirot and Henri Jokiharju complete the third defensive duo. Mason Lohrei sits as a healthy scratch despite showing promise earlier in the season.

The most significant change from Boston’s previous game is in goal, where Joonas Korpisalo gets the nod over Jeremy Swayman. Korpisalo has been solid in limited action this season, and coach Jim Montgomery is managing his goaltending tandem carefully to keep both netminders fresh. Jeffrey Viel is also a healthy scratch for the Bruins, while Jordan Harris remains out following surgery.

Key matchup factors and special teams battle

The special teams battle could determine the outcome of this Atlantic Division showdown. Ottawa’s penalty kill sits at a league-worst 62.5 percent, an alarming statistic that opponents have exploited repeatedly. The Bruins, meanwhile, possess the 13th-ranked power play in the NHL at 22 percent. If Boston can draw penalties and capitalize with the man advantage, they could break open what might otherwise be a tight contest.

Ottawa’s defensive struggles extend beyond the penalty kill. The team has allowed too many high-danger chances at even strength, putting additional pressure on Ullmark to stand on his head. The former Bruin will need to be at his best against his old teammates, who understand his tendencies and weaknesses. His familiarity with Boston’s personnel could work both ways—while he knows their shooting preferences, they know his positioning habits.

For the Senators to have success, they must generate consistent offensive pressure through the neutral zone. Stutzle and Batherson need to create odd-man rushes and exploit any defensive lapses from Boston’s restructured blue line. The absence of Tkachuk means role players like Greig and Pinto must elevate their physicality and net-front presence. Ottawa cannot allow Boston to dictate the pace and style of play.

Boston’s four-game winning streak has coincided with improved defensive structure. The Bruins have tightened up their defensive zone coverage and limited the types of high-quality chances that plagued them during their early-season struggles. McAvoy and Lindholm have been particularly effective at breaking up rush opportunities and transitioning quickly to offense. If they can continue that trend against Ottawa’s speed, the Bruins should control territorial play.

Goaltending duel and depth scoring considerations

The goaltending matchup features two netminders with interesting storylines. Ullmark returns to face the Bruins organization, where he developed his game before being traded to Ottawa. He’ll be motivated to prove Boston made a mistake in moving on from him. Korpisalo, conversely, has had an up-and-down tenure in Boston but has shown flashes of the form that made him a reliable starter earlier in his career.

Both goaltenders will need to be sharp, as neither team has demonstrated consistent defensive reliability. The Senators’ penalty kill deficiencies put enormous pressure on Ullmark to bail out his teammates, while Korpisalo must be prepared for Ottawa’s quick-strike ability through Stutzle and Batherson. Goaltending often determines the outcome of games between evenly matched opponents, and this contest could follow that pattern.

Depth scoring will be another critical factor. With Tkachuk out for Ottawa and Lindholm sidelined for Boston, secondary contributors must step up. Players like Perron, Giroux, Mittelstadt, and Arvidsson need to provide timely goals. The team that gets production from its third line could gain a decisive advantage. Boston’s bottom-six has been quietly effective during the winning streak, with Kastelic and Beecher providing energy and occasional offense.

Much like the projected lineup matchup between Ottawa and Montreal on November 1, 2025, the Senators face challenges in replacing their top-line presence. The Bruins, meanwhile, have managed to weather their injury storm by promoting younger players and relying on veteran depth. This organizational depth could prove advantageous as the season progresses.

What this game means for both teams’ trajectories

This matchup carries significance beyond the two points at stake. For Boston, extending the winning streak to five games would solidify their rebound from a shaky start and build confidence heading into a challenging schedule stretch. The Bruins need to prove they can sustain success despite roster limitations and establish themselves as legitimate playoff contenders in a competitive Atlantic Division.

Ottawa, conversely, needs to stop the bleeding and find consistency. Losing three of four games after showing promise earlier in the season raises questions about the team’s ability to compete without Tkachuk. The Senators must demonstrate they can win on the road against quality opponents. A victory at TD Garden would provide much-needed validation for a young roster still learning how to win.

The Bruins’ power play against Ottawa’s penalty kill represents the most significant mismatch on paper. If Boston draws early penalties and converts, they could seize control of the game and force Ottawa to chase. The Senators cannot afford to take undisciplined penalties against a team that has found rhythm on the man advantage. Penalty discipline will be essential for Ottawa’s chances.

Looking ahead, both teams face pivotal stretches in their schedules. The Bruins need to bank points while key players are injured, as Lindholm’s return timeline remains uncertain. Ottawa must find ways to stay competitive without their captain while developing younger players who will be crucial to the franchise’s future. The lessons learned from this game could resonate throughout both organizations.

As these Atlantic Division rivals collide at TD Garden, the contrasting trajectories create an intriguing dynamic. Boston’s confidence is growing with each victory, while Ottawa searches for answers to persistent special teams and consistency issues. The projected lineups for this November 6 matchup reveal two teams dealing with adversity in different ways—one riding momentum, the other desperate to recapture it. Puck drop at 7:00 p.m. ET will determine which team takes another step forward in their season-long journey.