Boston Bruins: Numbers Don’t Lie.
The Boston Bruins were in serious trouble just a few games ago. Their mathematical odds of making the post season were 33.4% and there was no chance of them winning the Stanley Cup. Well, what a difference a few games have made for the Black and Gold. The B’s have gone 2-0-1 in their last three games, and they’ve finally began to open up a lead on the Ottawa Senators.
As of this evening the Bruins chances of making the playoffs are now 72.7%. They’ve passed both the Calgary Flames and the Los Angeles Kings on the probability charts. Ottawa’s chances have nose-dived down to a 25.3% chance, thanks to losses to New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs (probably the first time ‘Thank You, Kessel!” was politely said by some Bruins fans), and the Florida Panthers. The Bruins had no chance to win the Stanley Cup a few games ago, but now the numbers say the Bruins can do it (albeit a slim 1.4% chance at the moment).
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With this afternoon’s win, the Bruins have begun to put a lead on Ottawa. They’ve got a three point lead over the Senators, and a four point lead over the Florida Panthers (who are back above zero with a 6.3% chance of making the post-season). The Bruins are now only three points behind Washington for the top wild card spot. They’re also three behind the Detroit Red Wings for the automatic third slot for the Atlantic Division.
The Bruins are capable of sustaining this type of positive momentum. If they can, then they would have moved from out of playoff contention to the sixth seed in just two short weeks. Not a bad bit of progress for a team that looked in serious trouble just a few weeks ago.
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The Bruins have gone from needing an awful lot of help to having control over their own destiny.
The B’s have six games left in the regular season. All of them are against Eastern Conference Teams. All but Washington Capitals are in their division. They have two games against the Florida Panthers. (Wins would kick the Panthers out of contention and all but secure a playoff berth.) They’re taking on the Washington Capitals, where they could claim the seventh seed. They’re also taking on the Red Wings, the Tampa Bay Lightning, and the Toronto Maple Leafs.
If the Bruins are committed to keeping their foot on the gas, then we’ll see how they do in the playoffs.