CULTURE

Footer Column 2

Footer Legal

Footer Main

Nav Bar

OTHER

SPORTS

Subscribe, at any level, to play

Thanks for your interest in Defector Crosswords!

Become a subscriber today to get unlimited access

Thanks for reading!

Plans start at $8/month.

Subscribers enjoy unlimited, ad-free browsing.

Register to continue

Or click here to subscribe for unlimited, ad-free access!

Our gift to you: This year's post is unlocked. Register your email to get even more free articles.

Welcome to the 2025 Hater's Guide!

Just register your email:

This blog is free to read.

This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

Defector

Ray Ratto

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - APRIL 19: Mattias Samuelsson #23 of the Buffalo Sabres celebrates his third period goal against the Boston Bruins with Jack Quinn #22 and Jason Zucker #17 in Game One of the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at KeyBank Center on April 19, 2026 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images)

It Ain’t Over Till It’s Buffalover

Lauren Theisen

Zack Ostapchuk #38 of the Ottawa Senators and Moritz Seider #53 of the Detroit Red Wings battle during a game

A Quick And Dirty Guide To The Eastern Conference Wild Card

I Am Begging For A Goalie Fight In Panthers-Bruins

Sunrise, FL - May 8: Boston Bruins RW David Pastrnak fighting with Florida Panthers RW Matthew Tkachuk in the third period. (Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

The Boys Are Scrappin’

Barry Petchesky

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 04: David Pastrnak #88 of the Boston Bruins celebrates his over time winning goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game Seven of the First Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden on May 04, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by China Wong/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Leafs Are Not Enough

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 30: Patrice Bergeron #37 of the Boston Bruins hugs Brad Marchand #63 before exiting the ice after Florida Panthers defeat the Bruins 4-3 in overtime of Game Seven of the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden on April 30, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Patrice Bergeron Was Unhateable

When Greatness Isn’t Good Enough

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 30: Matthew Tkachuk #19 of the Florida Panthers celebrates the overtime win against the Boston Bruins in Game Seven of the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden on April 30, 2023, in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)

Panthers Shock Bruins, Everybody Wins

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad (5) dumps Boston Bruins left wing Taylor Hall (71) during Game 2 of an Eastern Conference First Round playoff contest between the Boston Bruins and the Florida Panthers on April 19, 2023, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.

The Panthers Are No Fun For The Bruins

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 17: Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (63) takes a high stick from Florida Panthers defenseman Brandon Montour (62) during Game 1 of an Eastern Conference First Round playoff contest between the Boston Bruins and the Florida Panthers on April 17, 2023, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

How Do You Beat The Bruins?

Justin Ellis

Linus Ullmark #35 of the Boston Bruins is congratulated by teammate Brandon Carlo #25 after scoring a goalie goal during their NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena February 25, 2023 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)

Linus Ullmark Is Absolutely Ridiculous

Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman celebrate a Bruins win

The Bruins Are Kicking Ass In The Preseason

Kelsey McKinney

David Pastrnak #88 and Brad Marchand #63 of the Boston Bruins poses for a photo before the game against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic at Fenway Park on January 2, 2023 in Boston.

This Is So Stupid

The NHL Winter Classic Should Be Baseball Now

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 23: A detail of the Bruins logo on the sweater of Brad Marchand #63 of the Boston Bruins during the first period of the preseason game between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on September 23, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

The Bruins Did Everything Wrong

MONTREAL, QC - MARCH 21: View of a Boston Bruins logo on a jersey worn by a member of the team at warm-up before the Boston Bruins versus the Montreal Canadiens game on March 21, 2022 at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire)

You’re Allowed To Not Sign A Guy

Rays Week

Ray Bourque Was The Quintessential Old Guy Who Chased Down A Cup

Does The Lord Love Us Enough To Give Us Another Leafs-Bruins Series?

Jake DeBrusk Is The Bruins’ Bellwether

Brad Marchand Makes Another Enemy

Leo Komarov and David Pastrnak fight for the puck

The Bruins’ Other Guys Were Too Little Too Late

Brad Marchand’s OT Goal Was His Most Vile Act Yet

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 17: Brad Marchand #63 of the Boston Bruins celebrates his game winning goal in overtime against the Washington Capitals in Game Two of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on May 17, 2021 in Washington, DC.The Boston Bruins defeated the Washington Capitals 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Give Me Multiple Overtimes Or Don’t Even Bother

Wilson Versus Marchand Is The First Course These Stanley Cup Playoffs Deserve

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - MARCH 16: Taylor Hall #4 of the Buffalo Sabres skates against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on March 16, 2021 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)