Elias Lindholm scored the overtime game-winner to beat the Blackhawks. The 31-year-old center had a rough start to his tenure in Boston, but he delivered a massive play when the team needed it most. The Bruins secured a 5-4 comeback win on Saturday night at TD Garden.
Many fans wanted to see him go after his first two years were marred by back injuries and low scoring numbers. He signed a seven-year, $54.2 million contract in July 2024, and the pressure was high to perform immediately. Lindholm took over the game after Morgan Geekie tied it late in regulation. He drove to the net, deked the goalie, and sealed the win just past the midway point of overtime.
Teammates Know the Truth
Morgan Geekie has been watching Lindholm work hard every single night, even when the crowd was loud with doubt. The winger snapped a nine-game goalless streak himself, but he saved his biggest praise for his teammate. “He’s been unbelievable,” Geekie said of his teammate. “I know a lot of people rip on him the last couple of years. But I mean he brings his all every night, and I think you see it up and down the ice.”
Geekie noted that Lindholm is a 200-foot player who does not get enough credit for his defensive work. “He’s a 200-foot player, and I don’t think he gets enough credit for how good he is, night in and night out,” Geekie said, according to Boston.com. The Bruins have a 10-4-1 record., and Lindholm is playing a key role in that success despite the early struggles. He showed he can still beat top defenders and finish plays in tight spaces.
A Turnaround in the Making
The last two years were tough for Lindholm after he landed in Boston. He suffered recurring back injuries during offseason training in 2024, which set him back before the season even started. His play dipped significantly after the Winter Olympics in Italy last year; he scored only six goals in 25 games. Those numbers raised serious questions about his ability to handle the final five years of his massive contract.
Head coach Marco Sturm has seen the change firsthand and is happy to see the veteran forward step up. “He’s been great from day one,” Sturm said of Lindholm. The team is finding ways to win games even after losing two straight contests earlier in the week.
Young Stars Learning From the Vet
Rookie James Hagens is also benefiting from skating alongside Lindholm on the third line. The young forward is playing in a shutdown role that requires high skill and discipline. “I’ve learned a lot, especially defensively,” Hagens said of skating alongside Lindholm. This trio of Hagens, Mittelstadt, and Lindholm is becoming a reliable unit for the Bruins.
Geekie admitted that seeing Lindholm get rewarded with the game-winner was a huge moment for the whole group. “So we all see it here, and to see him get rewarded like that, taking it to the net and getting the game-winner was huge. So definitely, genuinely happy for him,” Geekie said. The crowd at TD Garden erupted as the puck crossed the line.
With the Atlantic Division tight and every point mattering, the Bruins need this kind of leadership.
