Boston Bruins Weekly Predictions: California Dreaming
By Jay Peterson
Boston Bruins To Take The California Road Test
In their last ten games, the Boston Bruins have taken home sixteen of a possible twenty points sporting a 7-1-2 record. This recent surge has put them at the top of the Atlantic Division race for the first time this season. With a trio of tough teams on the horizon in the San Jose Sharks, the Anaheim Ducks and the Los Angeles Kings the day after the Ducks, it is a big unknown how the Bruins will look in the standings next Sunday. However, the timing couldn’t be better as the team looks confident and composed going into this difficult week.
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Bruins v Sharks
The San Jose Sharks are a talented group who, like the Bruins, missed the playoffs last year leading some to believe that the team would be working their way down in the standings this year. However, after a few tweaks in net and elsewhere, the team is back to being the Western Conference threat that it has been renowned for. Tuukka Rask will start in net again and will hopefully remain red hot and focused. With the recent swagger and depth performances that Boston has put together, I am feeling good about this game and will say that the Bruins will win 4 to 3 in a close regulation finish.
Bruins v Ducks
The Bruins will have their hands full as they face the Anaheim Ducks who are arguably one of the hottest teams in the entire league right now. They have two goalies, John Gibson and Frederik Andersen, who are battling for the number one position, one just as impressive as the other. After having a slow start to the season, the team looks like a favorite to go far in the playoffs and possibly win the Stanley Cup.
The Ducks will be a good test for the Bruins who need to start considering themselves as one of the hotter teams in the league right now as well and also possible favorites in the weaker, thinner, Eastern Conference. If the Bruins can hold their own against the Ducks and squeak out a point at the very least, I would be happy. Unfortunately, I don’t see that happening as Anaheim will have its best players playing their best hockey taking this game with a score of 3 to 1.
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Bruins v Kings
The last time the Boston Bruins played the Los Angeles Kings, it was a disaster. Going into this game one day removed from their game against the Ducks won’t make things any easier. I am not going to predict another 9 to 2 blowout, but I do think that the Kings will be too much for the Bruins too handle on this night.
Jonas Gustavsson will get the start in this game so that Rask can rest and be ready for the important week following this one in which the Bruins play a few Eastern Conference playoff teams. Again, it would be nice if Boston could make it to overtime, and I do think that they will bring an effort in this game, but my gut says that Los Angeles will take this game, with a final score of 2 to 0.
The California road trip is never something a team should look forward to, but, at the same time, is a great challenge. Finishing the road trip with a winning record would be impressive for any team to pull off and I of course hope that the Bruins can come within reach of that. I just have too much respect for these three teams to believe that Boston can do it at this time.
Next: Bruins Poised For Playoffs
My biggest hope for this week is that this road trip doesn’t go so bad that the current positivity and drive that the team possesses begins to deflate. Whatever the results of this week amount to, the main goal for the Bruins is to keep on playing their game and to keep on believing that they are as good as they have been so far this month.
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