Here is how former Vancouver Canucks blueliner Nikita Zadorov is doing with the Boston Bruins so far this year.

The current playoff odds don't favor the Bruins. But even with Boston looking at an arduous road, they're embracing the challenge.

Sure, the Boston Bruins were without three of their top defensemen – Charlie McAvoy (wrist), Hampus Lindholm (knee) and Brandon Carlo (ill) – but Boston’s overall defense was terrible during a 7-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres Tuesday at KeyBank Center in Buffalo,

The defensemen have been counted on a lot this season, with Hampus Lindholm and Charlie McAvoy both sidelined.

Six-plus months ago, the Bruins believed they had checked two of those boxes in Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov ... pair with McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm unavailable. Zadorov was on the ice ...

With a bruiser like Nikita Zadorov added to the mix ... presence provided by stalwarts like Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm — coupled with the promise of a rookie like Mason Lohrei ...

Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm both returned to Bruins’ practice on Monday. Neither will play on Tuesday at Buffalo, but their return signals a significant step in their efforts to return to ...

If the Bruins are going to lock down one of the eight playoff seeds in the East, the hope rests largely on Charlie McAvoy's broad shoulders, along with those of Hampus Lindholm.

The Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers could each use at least another forward before the NHL trade deadline. What are their main and secondary needs?

First time Bruins have surrendered multiple hat tricks in same game since Eric Daze and Steve Sullivan each had hat trick for Blackhawks on Mar. 9, 2003.

The Boston Bruins suffered an embarrassing 7-2 loss to the Sabres in Buffalo Tuesday night and are now 1-7-1 on the road since Christmas. They don’t seem to have any answers for why they’ve been so much worse on the road than at home.

The lead lasted all of 55 seconds. The B’s top line got hemmed in its own end for much of the shift and, after it finally pushed it out of the zone, the players got caught in a change. On a Sabre 4-on-3, Matt Poitras got lost out high and Dylan Cozens connected with the wide-open trailer Thompson, who ripped a slapper past Swayman.