With two home victories more characteristic to what the Boston Bruins have been known for in the past, it is important that the team keep the good habits going in a crucial Eastern Conference week. This week, the Bruins are playing the Toronto Maple Leafs, in a rematch of last Saturday’s matchup, followed by a second away game against the Detroit Red Wings. Boston will then return home to host the New York Rangers. With the points race so tight between so many teams, especially within the Atlantic Division, the Boston Bruins need to, above all else, stay in every game.
Puck Prose
Bruins v Maple Leafs
This game is crucial in that it will dictate the rest of the week, as far as how the Bruins will play is concerned. Grabbing back to back wins against any team in this league is a huge confidence booster, but when it comes to a fellow Atlantic Division team, the motivation increases. After a low scoring game prior to this one, I expect there will be many hungry forwards ready to cash in. If I was either coach, I would throw in the same goalies as last game since both played so well.
It would be smart for the Bruins to have their usual dominant first periods and grab an early lead. If Boston can maintain the lead by playing a sound defensive game, with limited turnovers, I see this game ending similar to the last one. It depends on how the goalies do, but I will say that Boston wins 2 to 1.
Nov 14, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara (33) checks Detroit Red Wings center Gustav Nyquist (14) during the third period at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Bruins v Red Wings
If Boston can pull off back to back wins versus Toronto, I believe that that will launch them into a highly competitive mode that the Detroit Red Wings will not be able to handle. However, if the Bruins show any signs at all of being flat footed or disinterested, Detroit will steal this game from them, much like the San Jose Sharks did last week. So long as Tuukka Rask continues to play the way he has, I don’t see any reason why the Bruins should not start him. As I said, it depends greatly on how the Toronto game goes, but I am giving the Bruins the win again, this time in overtime with a final score of 3 to 2.
Bruins v Rangers
The New York Rangers are, in my opinion, the best team in the Eastern Conference. Intimidating at every position, New York just seems to be cruising through most of their games and look to cruise through the entire season. That doesn’t mean that they won’t have some off nights here and there though. That is what I am counting on when they face the Bruins. Boston is trying to return to being a team that is hard to play against where, if you do beat them, it wasn’t easy and you hope you don’t have to do it again for a while.
More from Bruins News
- Bruins release Prospects Challenge roster, schedule Tuesday
- Bruins bringing back familiar forward on tryout contract
- The Bruins should take a look at these four free agents
- NHL Network lists Ullmark as sixth-best goalie in the league
- The Lasting Legacy of David Krejci
If the Bruins can catch the Rangers off guard and keep them pushed in their own end, the possession game can take over which would lead to scoring chances on the right end of the ice. Unfortunately, the Rangers will be executing a similar plan. I expect the Bruins to be up for the challenge and play New York hard, much like they did in their most recent game against the Montreal Canadiens. However, like game in Montreal, the Bruins will not have enough to get past Henrik Lundqvist and the rest of the New York squad, falling 4 to 2.
With the Detroit and New York games looking difficult to overcome, the Bruins need to exert their dominance on the Maple Leafs and ensure that they, at the very least, get one win this week. Having that first win on the road will be the deciding factor in how the rest of this week, and most likely this month, will go for the Boston Bruins.
To make your predictions for this week’s games, post in the comment section below. For more access to all things Boston Bruins, follow 29Bruins on Twitter