Boston Bruins: Big Stretch Ahead In The Month Of March
By Mike Cratty
As the Boston Bruins regular season continues progresses, every game is very important. Why exactly are these games so important?
The Boston Bruins continue to roll under Interim Head Coach, Bruce Cassidy, and success like they have seen recently will be crucial going forward. They are currently 9-3-0 under Cassidy. Tomorrow afternoon, the Bruins take on the Philadelphia Flyers at TD Garden. They will look to keep it rolling against an up-and-down Flyers team that is still fighting for a playoff spot. The Flyers currently sit in sixth place in the Metropolitan Division with 70 points. Including tomorrow’s matinee against Philadelphia, the Bruins have 15 games remaining on the 2016-2017 regular season schedule and are still working towards clinching a playoff spot.
A lot of games, not a lot of time
After their matinee showdown with the Flyers tomorrow, the Bruins have two stretches ahead in which they will play three games in four days. From Mar. 13-16, there is a Western Conference road trip featuring the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, and Edmonton Oilers. The Calgary Flames are the standout team in that group of teams due to the fact that they are 12-2-1 in their last 15 games. The Bruins will travel to see old friend Jim Benning in Vancouver, as well as Peter Chiarelli in Edmonton.
Additionally, a week later comes a similar stretch from Mar. 20-23 with a mix of home and away games divisional foes, the Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators and Tampa Bay Lightning. Three divisional games in four days during a point in the season in which points are so vital. These games are sure to bring plenty of intensity in their own ways. Tampa Bay doesn’t come to town until the Mar. 23, but they are currently without Tyler Johnson, Cedric Paquette, Steven Stamkos, Ryan Callahan, and Vladislav Namestnikov. A combination of those five players could be back by the time the Lightning come to Boston. The Tampa Bay Lightning’s forward core is decimated at the moment. Luckily for them, Johnson, Namestnikov, and Paquette are considered day-to-day as of now. Staying fresh and ready to go will be essential in these tough stretches ahead.
After the Atlantic Division stretch, March is wrapped up on the road against the New York Islanders, and at home against P.K. Subban and the Nashville Predators, as well as Tyler Seguin and the Dallas Stars.
Keep the ball rolling
It’s no secret that the Bruins have been very exciting to watch as of late. Much of the reason for that is the stellar play of many of the forwards. Brad Marchand, in particular, is tied for third in the league in scoring with Sidney Crosby and Brent Burns at 70 points. While doing so, he is inserting himself into the consideration for the Hart Trophy and possibly other awards.
David Pastrnak, David Krejci, and Patrice Bergeron have all played much better as well as of late. This is, of course, showing us how explosive the top-six forward core can be. The team seems to be playing with more heart, creativity and energy and great things have happened as a result. Drew Stafford has looked solid as well since being acquired at the trade deadline. The defensemen have stepped up their game as well, especially Torey Krug. Surprisingly, March has started off a little slow for Tuukka Rask, who has only won one of his three starts thus far.
Next: David Krejci Heating Up For The Boston Bruins
Overall, not a terribly difficult looking schedule for the rest of the month, but a schedule with some critical games. The playoffs are looking more realistic than in the past for the Boston Bruins, let’s hope it stays that way with a tight race to the playoffs happening in the Eastern Conference.