Boston Bruins: Getting to Know the New Division Opponents for 2021

Breaking down the new divisional opponents that the Boston Bruins will face in the East Division for 2021.

For the second straight season, the Boston Bruins and the rest of the NHL are facing a shortened season in 2021 because of the Coronavirus pandemic. Last season was cut short to around 70 games on March 12 when the season was paused. The NHL was able to successfully pull off a Return to Play over the summer and crowned a Stanley Cup champion in September when the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Dallas Stars.

The road to the 2021 playoffs will look different for the Bruins. Gone because of travel restrictions at the US/Canadian border. Gone are the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, and Ottawa Senators. Also gone are the Detroit Red Wings and Florida Panthers who are joining the new Central Division. The biggest omission from the Boston schedule will be the Lightning.

The last two seasons, the Bruins and Bolts have battled for the top spot in the Atlantic Division and they are also the last two President Trophy-winning teams. Tampa will be joining the Panthers and Wings in the Central Division.

The Bruins and the Buffalo Sabres will be joining other Northeast cities and most of the teams from the Metropolitan Division to form the East Division of 56 regular season games.

With that said, let’s take an in-depth look at the Bruins’ new divisional foes for 2021.

Buffalo Sabres

The Sabres are the only team from the Atlantic Division that will still be on the Boston schedule. Buffalo has young star Jack Eichel, but they were active in free agency and in the trade market in September and October.

Buffalo was the surprise winner in the Taylor Hall free agent sweepstakes by signing him to a one-year, $8 million deal and they also signed former Winnipeg Jet Cody Eakin to a two-year deal for $4.5 million.

The Sabres also acquired Eric Staal from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for former Bruin Marcus Johansson in mid-September to add more forward depth.

Buffalo, however, failed to address their two pressing needs on defense and in goal, which have been their achilles heels over the last few seasons. Buffalo has had one winning season in the last nine years and have not made the playoffs since 2011.

They will be more dangerous than they have been in years past, but with questions still surrounding their defense and goaltending, these will be valuable points for the Bruins to take each time the two teams meet.