The 2009–10 Boston Bruins season was the Bruins' 86th season in the National Hockey League (NHL). Their regular season began with a nationally-televised home game against the Washington Capitals on October 1, 2009, and ended with a road game against the same Capitals team on April 11, 2010. The Bruins failed to defend their regular-season division and conference titles from the 2008–09 season.

Off-season At the 2009 NHL entry draft, the Bruins chose Jordan Caron with their first-round pick, 25th overall. The NHL announced on July 15, 2009, that the Bruins would face the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2010 NHL Winter Classic on New Year's Day at Fenway Park.

Due to salary cap constraints and free agent movement, general manager Peter Chiarelli made substantial changes to the Bruins' lineup in the offseason. Most notable was the trade of leading goalscorer Phil Kessel, who declined contract offers and was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs for three draft picks on September 18. Other departures included winger P. J. Axelsson—at 11 seasons, the longest tenured Bruin—center Stephane Yelle, defensemen Shane Hnidy and Steve Montador, and goaltender Manny Fernandez. These veteran players were considered expendable because of competition from younger, lower-paid players in the Bruins organization.

Chiarelli entered the 2009 off-season to acquire an offensive-minded defenseman, in part because of Boston's weakness in that area during the previous playoffs. On July 24, defenseman Derek Morris signed a one-year contract with the team. Gritty forward Steve Begin was also signed to provide forward depth. In goal, Fernandez was replaced with rookie Tuukka Rask, who had spent several seasons playing in the American Hockey League (AHL).

Pre-season

2009 pre-season game log: 5–2–1 (home: 1–2–0; road: 4–0–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Recap 1 September 15 Boston Bruins 2–1 New York Rangers Tuukka Rask 11,111 1–0–0 2 September 16 Boston Bruins 3–2 Toronto Maple Leafs Dany Sabourin 16,872 2–0–0 3 September 19 New York Rangers 5–2 Boston Bruins Tim Thomas 15,882 2–1–0 4 September 20 Montreal Canadiens 1–2 Boston Bruins Tuukka Rask 15,399 3–1–0 5 September 22 Boston Bruins 5–6 Columbus Blue Jackets SO Dany Sabourin 10,571 3–1–1 6 September 24 Boston Bruins 2–1 Montreal Canadiens SO Tim Thomas 21,273 4–1–1 7 September 25 Boston Bruins 2–1 Ottawa Senators Tim Thomas 18,295 5–1–1 8 September 26 Columbus Blue Jackets 4–2 Boston Bruins Tuukka Rask 16,711 5–2–1 Match played at Colisée Pepsi, Quebec City.

Regular season The Bruins were slow to gain traction with their retooled roster, alternating wins and losses in the early weeks of the season. Chiarelli quickly dealt popular winger Chuck Kobasew to the Minnesota Wild, while penalty-killing expert Daniel Paille was brought in from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for draft picks, a move that was interpreted as a sign of dissatisfaction with the team's productivity.

In particular, the team struggled offensively in Kessel's absence. Having nearly finished first in scoring the previous season, the Bruins lingered near the bottom of the league in goal production. However, they remained competitive due to their exceptional defense and strong goaltending tandem. While defending Vezina Trophy winner Tim Thomas was recovering from an early injury, rookie netminder Tuukka Rask emerged as a potential Calder Memorial Trophy candidate. A four-game winning streak in November set the Bruins back on course, and a 5–1–0 home record in December got them back into the divisional race by Christmas.

Perhaps the most memorable game of the season was the Winter Classic, which the Bruins hosted at Fenway Park in Boston. Despite trailing for most of the game, the team rallied in the final moments and won in overtime before a large national audience. After the game, Thomas was announced as a member of the United States men's hockey team, joining five teammates (Patrice Bergeron, Zdeno Chara, Marco Sturm, David Krejci and Miroslav Satan) who would represent various countries in Vancouver.

The Bruins went on a long losing streak lasting from mid-January to just before the Olympic break.

In the 81st game of the season, the Bruins scored three shorthanded goals in a span of 64 seconds. This outburst during a single penalty kill not only equaled their previous shorthanded goal total for the entire season but also set an NHL record for the fastest three shorthanded goals in a game. The 4–2 victory over the Hurricanes secured a playoff spot for the Bruins.

The Bruins finished the regular season having scored 196 goals (excluding 10 shootout-winning goals), the fewest in the NHL. They were the most disciplined team in the League, with a league-low 37 power-play goals against.

Divisional standings

Conference standings

Game log

2009–10 game log October: 6–5–1 (home: 4–4–0; road: 2–1–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 1 Washington Capitals 4–1 Boston Bruins Tim Thomas 17,565 0–1–0 0 2 October 3 Carolina Hurricanes 2–7 Boston Bruins Tim Thomas 16,592 1–1–0 2 3 October 8 Anaheim Ducks 6–1 Boston Bruins Tim Thomas 16,158 1–2–0 2 4 October 10 New York Islanders 3–4 Boston Bruins SO Tuukka Rask 17,113 2–2–0 4 5 October 12 Colorado Avalanche 4–3 Boston Bruins Tuukka Rask 16,393 2–3–0 4 6 October 16 Boston Bruins 3–0 Dallas Stars Tim Thomas 17,811 3–3–0 6 7 October 17 Boston Bruins 1–4 Phoenix Coyotes Tim Thomas 9,162 3–4–0 6 8 October 21 Nashville Predators 2–3 Boston Bruins Tim Thomas 16,715 4–4–0 8 9 October 22 Boston Bruins 3–4 Philadelphia Flyers SO Tuukka Rask 19,303 4–4–1 9 10 October 24 Boston Bruins 4–3 Ottawa Senators SO Tim Thomas 20,154 5–4–1 11 11 October 29 New Jersey Devils 2–1 Boston Bruins Tim Thomas 17,565 5–5–1 11 12 October 31 Edmonton Oilers 0–2 Boston Bruins Tuukka Rask 17,565 6–5–1 13 November: 7–3–4 (home: 3–1–3; road: 4–2–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 13 November 1 Boston Bruins 0–1 New York Rangers Tim Thomas 18,200 6–6–1 13 14 November 3 Boston Bruins 0–2 Detroit Red Wings Tim Thomas 19,167 6–7–1 13 15 November 5 Montreal Canadiens 2–1 Boston Bruins SO Tim Thomas 17,565 6–7–2 14 16 November 7 Buffalo Sabres 2–4 Boston Bruins Tuukka Rask 17,565 7–7–2 16 17 November 10 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–3 Boston Bruins Tim Thomas 17,565 8–7–2 18 18 November 12 Florida Panthers 1–0 Boston Bruins SO Tim Thomas 17,074 8–7–3 19 19 November 14 Boston Bruins 5–6 Pittsburgh Penguins OT Tim Thomas 17,132 8–7–4 20 20 November 16 New York Islanders 4–1 Boston Bruins Tuukka Rask 16,865 8–8–4 20 21 November 19 Boston Bruins 4–3 Atlanta Thrashers SO Tuukka Rask 12,112 9–8–4 22 22 November 20 Boston Bruins 2–1 Buffalo Sabres OT Tuukka Rask 18,291 10–8–4 24 23 November 23 Boston Bruins 4–2 St. Louis Blues Tuukka Rask 19,150 11–8–4 26 24 November 25 Boston Bruins 2–1 Minnesota Wild SO Tuukka Rask 18,208 12–8–4 28 25 November 27 New Jersey Devils 2–1 Boston Bruins SO Tuukka Rask 17,565 12–8–5 29 26 November 28 Ottawa Senators 3–4 Boston Bruins SO Tim Thomas 17,565 13–8–5 31 December: 7–4–2 (home: 5–1–0; road: 2–3–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 27 December 2 Tampa Bay Lightning 1–4 Boston Bruins Tim Thomas 16,553 14–8–5 33 28 December 4 Boston Bruins 1–5 Montreal Canadiens Tim Thomas 21,273 14–9–5 33 29 December 5 Toronto Maple Leafs 2–7 Boston Bruins Tuukka Rask 17,565 15–9–5 35 30 December 10 Toronto Maple Leafs 2–5 Boston Bruins Tuukka Rask 17,565 16–9–5 37 31 December 12 Boston Bruins 2–3 New York Islanders OT Tim Thomas 13,744 16–9–6 38 32 December 14 Philadelphia Flyers 3–1 Boston Bruins Tim Thomas 17,565 16–10–6 38 33 December 18 Boston Bruins 4–5 Chicago Blackhawks SO Tim Thomas 21,717 16–10–7 39 34 December 19 Boston Bruins 0–3 Toronto Maple Leafs Tuukka Rask 19,101 16–11–7 39 35 December 21 Boston Bruins 2–0 Ottawa Senators Tim Thomas 19,865 17–11–7 41 36 December 23 Atlanta Thrashers 4–6 Boston Bruins Tim Thomas 17,565 18–11–7 43 37 December 27 Boston Bruins 2–1 Florida Panthers Tim Thomas 18,799 19–11–7 45 38 December 28 Boston Bruins 1–2 Tampa Bay Lightning Tim Thomas 16,926 19–12–7 45 39 December 30 Atlanta Thrashers 0–4 Boston Bruins Tuukka Rask 17,565 20–12–7 47 January: 3–9–2 (home: 1–5–1; road: 2–4–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 40 January 1 Philadelphia Flyers 1–2 Boston Bruins OT Tim Thomas 38,112 21–12–7 49 41 January 4 Boston Bruins 2–3 New York Rangers Tuukka Rask 18,200 21–13–7 49 42 January 5 Boston Bruins 4–1 Ottawa Senators Tim Thomas 19,156 22–13–7 51 43 January 7 Chicago Blackhawks 5–2 Boston Bruins Tim Thomas 17,565 22–14–7 51 44 January 9 New York Rangers 3–1 Boston Bruins Tim Thomas 17,565 22–15–7 51 45 January 13 Boston Bruins 3–4 Anaheim Ducks Tuukka Rask 14,957 22–16–7 51 46 January 14 Boston Bruins 2–1 San Jose Sharks SO Tim Thomas 17,562 23–16–7 53 47 January 16 Boston Bruins 3–4 Los Angeles Kings SO Tim Thomas 18,118 23–16–8 54 48 January 18 Ottawa Senators 5–1 Boston Bruins Tim Thomas 17,565 23–17–8 54 49 January 21 Columbus Blue Jackets 3–2 Boston Bruins Tuukka Rask 17,565 23–18–8 54 50 January 23 Ottawa Senators 2–1 Boston Bruins Tim Thomas 17,565 23–19–8 54 51 January 24 Boston Bruins 1–5 Carolina Hurricanes Tim Thomas 13,512 23–20–8 54 52 January 29 Boston Bruins 1–2 Buffalo Sabres Tuukka Rask 18,690 23–21–8 54 53 January 30 Los Angeles Kings 3–2 Boston Bruins SO Tim Thomas 17,565 23–21–9 55 2010 NHL Winter Classic, played at Fenway Park. February: 4–1–2 (home: 0–1–2; road: 4–0–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 54 February 2 Washington Capitals 4–1 Boston Bruins Tim Thomas 17,565 23–22–9 55 55 February 4 Montreal Canadiens 3–2 Boston Bruins SO Tuukka Rask 17,565 23–22–10 56 56 February 6 Vancouver Canucks 3–2 Boston Bruins SO Tuukka Rask 17,565 23–22–11 57 57 February 7 Boston Bruins 3–0 Montreal Canadiens Tuukka Rask 21,273 24–22–11 59 58 February 9 Boston Bruins 3–2 Buffalo Sabres SO Tuukka Rask 18,690 25–22–11 61 59 February 11 Boston Bruins 5–4 Tampa Bay Lightning Tuukka Rask 15,826 26–22–11 63 60 February 13 Boston Bruins 3–2 Florida Panthers SO Tuukka Rask 17,109 27–22–11 65 March: 8–7–1 (home: 3–4–0; road: 5–3–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 61 March 2 Montreal Canadiens 4–1 Boston Bruins Tuukka Rask 17,565 27–23–11 65 62 March 4 Toronto Maple Leafs 2–3 Boston Bruins SO Tim Thomas 17,565 28–23–11 67 63 March 6 Boston Bruins 3–2 New York Islanders Tim Thomas 14,587 29–23–11 69 64 March 7 Boston Bruins 1–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Tim Thomas 17,132 29–24–11 69 65 March 9 Boston Bruins 3–4 Toronto Maple Leafs OT Tim Thomas 19,499 29–24–12 70 66 March 11 Boston Bruins 5–1 Philadelphia Flyers Tuukka Rask 19,673 30–24–12 72 67 March 13 Boston Bruins 2–3 Montreal Canadiens Tuukka Rask 21,273 30–25–12 72 68 March 15 Boston Bruins 2–3 New Jersey Devils Tim Thomas 15,801 30–26–12 72 69 March 16 Boston Bruins 5–2 Carolina Hurricanes Tuukka Rask 15,832 31–26–12 74 70 March 18 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–0 Boston Bruins Tuukka Rask 17,565 31–27–12 74 71 March 21 New York Rangers 1–2 Boston Bruins Tuukka Rask 17,565 32–27–12 76 72 March 23 Boston Bruins 4–0 Atlanta Thrashers Tuukka Rask 14,042 33–27–12 78 73 March 25 Tampa Bay Lightning 5–3 Boston Bruins Tuukka Rask 17,565 33–28–12 78 74 March 27 Calgary Flames 0–5 Boston Bruins Tim Thomas 17,565 34–28–12 80 75 March 29 Buffalo Sabres 3–2 Boston Bruins Tim Thomas 17,565 34–29–12 80 76 March 30 Boston Bruins 1–0 New Jersey Devils OT Tuukka Rask 16,636 35–29–12 82