The Boston Bruins are heading into a pivotal Game 6 on Friday night with a surge of momentum—and they're not shy about their confidence. After stealing a crucial road win in Game 5, the team returns to TD Garden looking to even the series against the Buffalo Sabres and force a winner-take-all Game 7 on Sunday.

Despite trailing in the series, star defenseman Charlie McAvoy made it clear that this group isn't just hoping to win—they expect to. "I think our team's resilience has been huge all year," McAvoy said before the game. "We compete, we have each other's back, we just all pull the rope in the same direction. This group really has a lot of love." He added, "We have a lot to be excited about, a lot of confidence to have in our game and an opportunity to come back and play in front of our fans tonight. Try to win a game and keep this thing going."

That confidence isn't just talk—it's backed by lineup adjustments that paid off in Game 5. Alex Steeves, Mikey Eyssimont, and Henri Jokiharju all brought a spark of energy and will stay in the rotation for Friday's matchup. Head coach Marco Sturm praised their impact and emphasized the importance of carrying that same mentality into Game 6. "Just having the same mentality we had last game," Sturm said. "I enjoyed it. I enjoyed the first to the last minute. Just the way they came in, they competed. They set the tone right away. We just had that mindset—we are going to win this game tonight. As long as they give me that feeling, I will be fine."

For Bruins fans, this is the kind of resilience that makes a team dangerous in the playoffs. With a home crowd behind them and a roster that's found its groove, Boston is poised to keep the series alive. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday at TD Garden.