Boston Bruins Marching to the Playoffs As Regular Season Winds Down
For the duration of the season, the Boston Bruins have been on the right side of the playoff picture. However, as it still stands today, they are, by no means, anywhere close to clinching or even getting comfortable. While playoff talks are increasing, there is still plenty of work do be done for the Bruins.
After snapping a five game losing streak, it is time to get back on track and make sure that the Detroit Red Wings, or Philadelphia Flyers, do not gain anymore ground. Visiting the New Jersey Devils, the St. Louis Blues and the Chicago Blackhawks does not make things any easier for Boston, so there will need to be no off games or missteps.
Bruins v Devils
With the Boston Bruins defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs, they are back in the winning column, but an additional win against New Jersey is vital with two difficult Western Conference teams coming up after. If Boston cannot pull out at least a point in this matchup, things will start to look daunting.
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New Jersey is not yet mathematically out of the playoff picture yet so this will still be a team that is hungry and tough to beat. The game ought to be low scoring but anything can happen in late March. This needs to be a situation where the better team brings the right amount of effort to be the better team and take the game. I believe that the better team is the Bruins and that they will take this game 3 to 2, in regulation.
Bruins v Blues
At this point in the season, one can only hope that certain playoff bound teams will begin to sit their more talented players so that they do not risk getting injured and missing part of the playoffs. With the St. Louis Blues in the playoffs, the aforementioned scenario could become a reality. However, I feel that even if Boston is able to pull out a win against New Jersey, they will not have it in them on this night to put together a strong performance or win. I am giving this game to the Blues with a 2 to 0 final.
Puck Prose
Bruins v Blackhawks
As said above, it would be nice if some of the Blackhawks players took this night off. It certainly isn’t out of the question as the Bruins are an Eastern Conference team and therefore wouldn’t factor in the standings of the West if they were to win a game or even force overtime. However, if I am thinking that sitting some of the Chicago team is the only way the Bruins can pull off a win, chances are, they won’t. It scares me to say it, but it looks like the Bruins will leave this game pointless as well, with a final score of 4 to 1 for the Blackhawks.
It is never good to say that the future is out of our hands, but, unfortunately, this week it is. I truly believe that Boston will not get anymore than two points this week, which will put them in an incredibly vulnerable position. With the Bruins game not looking promising, my focus will be on the Philadelphia Flyers and the Detroit Red Wings, who are most realistic to take a playoff spot from the Bruins.
Philadelphia’s games this week are against the Winnipeg Jets, the Washington Capitals, the Ottawa Senators and the Pittsburgh Penguins, while the four games for Detroit are featuring the Buffalo Sabres, the Montreal Canadiens, the Minnesota Wild and the Toronto Maples Leafs.
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Looking over each schedule, I would have to say that the Boston Bruins have the harder test, followed by the Flyers and then the Red Wings. After these games, there will only be one week of hockey left. Thinking about what might transpire this week sets in an uneasy feeling, so I am highly anticipating that this week goes by fast so we can just see what the results are. It is really getting down to it. To make your own weekly predictions, go to the comments section below.