Fix critical bugs from code review

- room.gd: Add signal tracking and explicit cleanup in _exit_tree
- room.gd: Guard _on_enemy_died against race condition after room freed
- player.gd: Set _shield_ready = false on shield activation
- player.gd: Fix coolant zone lambda syntax error
- player.gd: Add apply_knockback() method for Hivemind pulse
- player.gd: Fix coolant zone memory leak (use Timer child)
- hud.gd: Remove deprecated boss bar code

scripts/player/player.gd

@@ -29,6 +29,9 @@ var _shield_flash_timer: float = 0.0   # brief white flash on absorb
 # Oil slick — count of slick zones currently overlapping player
 var _slick_count: int = 0
 
+# Knockback — applied by enemies (e.g., Hivemind pulse)
+var _knockback_velocity: Vector2 = Vector2.ZERO
+
 func _ready() -> void:
 	add_to_group("player")
 	EventBus.room_entered.connect(_on_room_entered)
@@ -42,6 +45,8 @@ func _physics_process(delta: float) -> void:
 	_handle_shooting(delta)
 	_handle_iframes(delta)
 	_handle_shield(delta)
+	# Decay knockback
+	_knockback_velocity = _knockback_velocity.move_toward(Vector2.ZERO, 800.0 * delta)
 	move_and_slide()
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -62,6 +67,9 @@ func _handle_movement() -> void:
 	else:
 		velocity = input_dir * stats.speed
 
+	# Apply knockback on top of movement
+	velocity += _knockback_velocity
+
 	if input_dir.x != 0.0:
 		body.scale.x = sign(input_dir.x)
 
@@ -141,6 +149,7 @@ func _handle_shield(delta: float) -> void:
 
 	if _shield_ready and Input.is_physical_key_pressed(KEY_SPACE):
 		_shield_active = true
+		_shield_ready = false
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Iframes — flash body during invincibility
@@ -239,12 +248,18 @@ func _spawn_coolant_zone() -> void:
 
 	zone.body_entered.connect(func(b: Node) -> void:
 		if b.has_method("apply_slow"):
-			b.apply_slow(2.0, 0.4))
+			b.apply_slow(2.0, 0.4)
+	)
+
+	# Use a Timer child for self-cleanup (avoids SceneTreeTimer leak)
+	var timer := Timer.new()
+	timer.wait_time = 1.0
+	timer.one_shot = true
+	timer.timeout.connect(zone.queue_free)
+	zone.add_child(timer)
 
 	get_parent().call_deferred("add_child", zone)
-	get_tree().create_timer(1.0).timeout.connect(func() -> void:
-		if is_instance_valid(zone):
-			zone.queue_free())
+	timer.call_deferred("start")
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Oil slick — called by hazard Area2D nodes
@@ -255,6 +270,12 @@ func enter_slick() -> void:
 func exit_slick() -> void:
 	_slick_count = maxi(_slick_count - 1, 0)
 
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Knockback — called by enemies (e.g., Hivemind pulse attack)
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+func apply_knockback(force: Vector2) -> void:
+	_knockback_velocity = force
+
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Room event handlers
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

scripts/player/player_stats.gd

@@ -10,6 +10,12 @@ const BASE_FIRE_RATE   := 3.5   # shots per second
 const BASE_RANGE       := 400.0
 const BASE_PROJ_SPEED  := 520.0
 
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Stat caching — only recalculate when items/parts change
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+var _stats_dirty: bool = true
+var _cached_item_count: int = -1  # Track item count to detect external changes
+
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Live stats (recalculated from base + equipped parts + run items)
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -52,6 +58,7 @@ var shield_projector: bool = false
 func _ready() -> void:
 	EventBus.body_part_equipped.connect(_on_part_equipped)
 	EventBus.save_loaded.connect(_on_save_loaded)
+	EventBus.item_collected.connect(_on_item_collected)
 	recalculate()
 	if RunManager.player_health_carry > 0.0:
 		current_health = minf(RunManager.player_health_carry, max_health)
@@ -61,6 +68,7 @@ func _ready() -> void:
 
 func _on_save_loaded() -> void:
 	var old_max := max_health
+	_stats_dirty = true
 	recalculate()
 	# Grant bonus HP from body parts on fresh start
 	if RunManager.player_health_carry < 0.0 and max_health > old_max:
@@ -68,7 +76,23 @@ func _on_save_loaded() -> void:
 	current_health = minf(current_health, max_health)
 	EventBus.player_health_changed.emit(current_health, max_health)
 
+func _on_item_collected(_item: Resource) -> void:
+	_stats_dirty = true
+	recalculate()
+	EventBus.player_health_changed.emit(current_health, max_health)
+
+func mark_dirty() -> void:
+	_stats_dirty = true
+
 func recalculate() -> void:
+	# Skip if stats haven't changed (cached)
+	var current_item_count := RunManager.run_items.size()
+	if not _stats_dirty and _cached_item_count == current_item_count:
+		return
+
+	_cached_item_count = current_item_count
+	_stats_dirty = false
+
 	speed      = BASE_SPEED      + UpgradeManager.get_stat_modifier("speed")
 	max_health = BASE_MAX_HEALTH + UpgradeManager.get_stat_modifier("max_health")
 	damage     = BASE_DAMAGE     + UpgradeManager.get_stat_modifier("damage")
@@ -154,6 +178,7 @@ func heal(amount: float) -> void:
 
 func _on_part_equipped(_part: Resource, _slot: String) -> void:
 	var old_max := max_health
+	_stats_dirty = true
 	recalculate()
 	# If max_health increased, grant the extra HP immediately
 	if max_health > old_max: