The Boston Bruins had a crucial three-game stretch against playoff contenders from the East division and got six huge points, beating the New York Islanders twice and the Washington Capitals.
The team has looked like it has improved from the deadline, winning all four games since trading for Taylor Hall and Curtis Lazar from the Buffalo Sabres, in addition to getting Mike Reilly from the Ottawa Senators. The acquisitions Don Sweeney made have been a big reason for these victories as Boston tries to not just keep a spot in the top-four of the division, but climb the standings.
However, the Bruins now face what can be called an “easy” upcoming three games – all against the league-worst Buffalo Sabres.
Despite their record and the fact that Buffalo traded away players like Hall, Eric Staal and Brandon Montour, the Sabres have points in four out of their last five games and have played the Bruins competitively in the two games they’ve had against each other so far. Each has been 3-2 wins for the Bruins, with the latest decided by a shootout.
Points are at a premium this time of the year, with 13 games left in the regular season. The Bruins still sit in fourth place in the East, with only a four-point buffer between them and the New York Rangers. But with the Islanders just four points ahead for third place, victories against Buffalo can put the Bruins in a much better situation for the playoffs.
It’s easy to watch how the Bruins took care of business against the Islanders and Capitals and have no worry about doing the same against the Sabres. However, look no further than the second-to-last place New Jersey Devils, who have given the Bruins fits all year, as Boston is 2-3-1 against the Devils.
If the Bruins get complacent and leave points on the board against a team that they should beat up on in the Sabres, then they run the risk of going in the wrong direction in the standings and the three dominant wins they just had will be quickly forgotten. Don’t let this hot streak get ruined by a Sabres team that could do down as the worst in their franchise’s history.