A few playoff possibilities for Bruins
Here’s the best I can deduce as far as a few scenarios for the Bruins in the playoffs without my abacus. If you have anything to add/correct, feel free.
•If the Bruins lose in regulation tomorrow to Ottawa at TD Garden, they can only get 103 points and would be locked in as the No. 3 seed when they take the ice in New Jersey Sunday.
•They can still move up to No. 2. If they win their last two games, with one in regulation/OT, and Philadelphia gets just one point. Factoring in Pittsburgh, the Bruins would need two wins of any kind plus the Penguins get just one point in their last game — that is if Philly doesn’t get point No. 105.
•One point by the Bruins against the Sens keeps them alive for No. 2 as well. They’d have to then win Sunday and get regulation losses by Philly and Pittsburgh.
•This I know is definite: Bruins can only play Montreal or Buffalo in the first round.
I think that touches all the bases.
I hope the Bruins play a disciplined game in the play offs, because too much penalty killing will hurt. Going on the PP isn’t going to benefit us if the PP doesn’t get working-and I think the fault lies either with the coaches or the players, because the players stand around waiting for passes too much (not sure if the coaches are encouraging that or if the players aren’t listening to the coaches about movement).
my biggest concern is production from the 2nd line wings.
pp gonna doom this team. would love to see two lines get hot during the same game.
The team I’m watching is the Rangers. It wasn’t that long ago they were almost certain to make the post season. Now, they are at the mercy of the Carolina Canes. Will the Rangers miss the play offs on the last game of the season for the second year in a row? I’m not looking to rag on the Rangers and thier fans, its just kind of freaky.
An aside, the only team with more regulation (and ROW wins) than Boston in the league is Vancouver, with 46 Regulation wins and 3 OT wins.
Also, interesting side note, Boston has the most regulation wins of anyone in the eastern conference, despite philly and Wash having the same number of Regulation/ overtime wins.
for overtime wins among teams with home ice it ranks
4) Bos: 1
3) Phi: 3
2) Pitt: 5
1) Wash: 9
That being said, Regulation wins in the season is then:
4) Pitt: 33
3) Wash: 34
2) Phi: 40
1) Bos: 42
This infers that we are then the best team in the East when we have 5 men on the ice (and we consequently, using a different set of statistics, are the worst with 4 skaters).
When one considers that the 4-on-4 situations in the playoffs are few and far between, there may yet be reason to have faith in CJ an his Bruins. Their physical style and 5-on-5 prowess is certainly beneficial. After all, their power play got maybe 3 of their Regulation win and did get their OT win. (about 9% of their games) God, I hope it matters.
I think the Bruins can beat both teams if the whole team shows up to play and the skate well. Flat starts, or flat periods will make a victory difficult.
I think home ice makes a huge difference when it comes to playing the Habs. Not as important with Buffalo. I think the Bruins can out physical and shut the Habs down more easily and I kind of think the Sabres have our number this year although that last home game with Buffalo right after the Chara hit I think was a gift to the Sabres by the refs. There were some really wonky calls against the Bruins in that game and the calls were made just as the Bruins found any momentum. That game to me was a fluke. The other games were close.
It doesn’t matter whether it is the Habs or the Sabres. If the Bruins can maintain any consistency and play a full 60 freaking minutes, they can play with ANY team.