The Boston Bruins have officially named Marco Sturm as their new head coach, hoping to rejuvenate the team after a disappointing season that saw them miss the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Sturm, a former player for the Bruins and coach of Germany's national team, replaces Joe Sacco, who struggled to guide the team to a strong finish after taking over mid-season. With a record of 25-30-7 under Sacco, the Bruins faced a significant roster overhaul, including trading away veteran players like Brad Marchand. Sturm brings a wealth of experience, having previously led the AHL’s Ontario Reign and coached at the international level.

President Cam Neely and general manager Don Sweeney expressed confidence in Sturm's ability to restore the Bruins to their competitive form. As a player, Sturm was known for his offensive skills, and his coaching style emphasizes a strong, hard-nosed approach to the game. After a season where CEO Charlie Jacobs acknowledged the team's unacceptable performance, expectations are high for Sturm to bring a renewed passion and effectiveness to the Bruins. His familiarity with the organization and the city, coupled with his coaching background, positions him as a promising choice to lead the team back to success.

The Abbotsford Canucks extended their winning streak to eight games with a commanding 5-1 victory over the San Jose Barracuda. Despite missing several key players owing to call-ups to the Vancouver Canucks, Abbotsford demonstrated resilience. Cooper Walker opened the scoring early in the first period, followed by goals from Phil Di Giuseppe, Chase Wouters, and Jujhar Khaira, who added to the Canucks' lead. After a goaltending change in San Jose, the Barracuda managed to score once but could not close the gap.

Goaltender Nikita Tolopilo was instrumental for Abbotsford, shutting down San Jose's attempts and maintaining a strong defensive presence. This victory was crucial in terms of playoff positioning as the Canucks look to solidify their place in the postseason. With the two teams set to clash again the next day, the Canucks will aim to keep their momentum while the Barracuda will seek redemption.