Boston Bruins: Three Reasons the Black and Gold Make the Playoffs

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The push for the playoffs has been on for some time for the Boston Bruins. After starting the season 10-1-2, the Black and Gold have gone 15-11-4, but still hold the fourth and final East Division playoff berth, four points over the fast-charging New York Rangers.

With two games in hand on the Blue Shirts, the Bruins begin a five-game road trip tonight in Western New York against the Buffalo Sabres. With 13 games left on the docket in the 56-game regular season, here are three reasons why the Bruins will make the playoffs as the fourth seed at worst.

1. Schedule

Seven of the final 13 games are against the Sabres and New Jersey Devils. Yeah, I know, the five games against the Sabres are not going to be as easy as they looked a few weeks ago. Buffalo is 5-3-3 in their last 11 games and are coming off of wins over the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals.

Since cleaning house at the trade deadline and sending out four players, including Taylor Hall and Curtis Lazar to the Bruins on April 11, Buffalo has looked like a different team, playing more freely and with confidence. Something tells me that even getting seven out of a possible 10 remaining against Buffalo should be good enough to keep the Rangers at bay.

On the other hand, the Bruins have struggled this season against the Devils, but lately, New Jersey has looked like a team that is ready for the summer. They just lost, three non-competitive games, for the most part, three straight games to the Rangers, and are just three points ahead of Buffalo for last place in the division.

Like the Sabres, NJ sold at the trade deadline, but unlike the Sabres, they appear ready for the golf course. Boston is 2-3-1 vs. New Jersey this season, but they can make amends by sweeping the final two games on the road in the first week in May.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – APRIL 15: Mie Reilly #6 of the Boston Bruins looks on during the third period against the New York Islanders at TD Garden on April 15, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Bruins defeat the Islanders 4-1. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

2. Trade Deadline Deals

As the trade deadline inched closer and closer, it was clear that the Bruins had needs. A top-six forward was needed, as was a left-shot defenseman. Less than an hour following an 8-1 drubbing at the hands of the Capitals, general manager Don Sweeney addressed both needs late into the night on April 11.

The first deal acquired Mike Reilly from the Ottawa Senators and the 6-foot-1 and 199-pound 27-year-old has been just what Boston needed. In four games, Reilly has two assists and a plus/minus rating of plus-2. A solid puck-moving blueliner, Reilly quickly was inserted on the first power play unit in his first game. Oh, and he has 13 shots on the net in four games. So far, the returns have been very good.

Sweeney’s second deal landed former Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall and Curtis Lazar from the Sabres. Hall has already scored as many goals in four games with the Bruins, two, then he did in 37 games for Buffalo. Since Hall’s arrival, the Bruins have won all four games and David Krejci has found an extra step in his game. Playing with confidence, Krejci now has both wings with Hall and Craig Smith producing. If the Bruins continue to get production from their top two lines, they will be a very tough out the rest of the way.

When was the last time the Bruins were able to put their fourth-line over the boards with confidence? Since Lazar’s arrival, the fourth-line has been of the better lines for the Black and Gold.

Lazar, Chris Wagner, and Sean Kuraly started the last couple of games for the coach Bruce Cassidy and set the tone from the drop of the puck. They are relentless on the forecheck, creating scoring chances and disrupting their opponent’s top lines. What a luxury it is for the Bruins to have a fourth-line go out and do what they have in the last four games.

Apr 15, 2021; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins goaltender Tuuka Rask (40) deflects the puck in the corner during the first period against the New York Islanders at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Goaltending

Veteran goalie Tuukka Rask has won both of his starts since returning from a back injury in the last five days and he’s looked pretty impressive in doing so. The Bruins are not going to overwork the 34-year-old and most likely split his time before the postseason.

Who does he split that time with? That’s the question.

Backup Jaroslav Halak is traveling with the Bruins on their current road trip and is close to coming off of the COVID-19 protocols list. When he does, who backs up Rask?

Rookie Jeremy Swayman has made the case to be the full-time backup with his impressive start to his NHL career. In five games, Swayman is 4-1 with a 1.78 goals-against average (GAA) with a .938 save percentage (SV%). He’s allowed just nine goals on 155 shots.

He plays with confidence, challenges the opponents, and does a nice job of cutting down their shooting angles. There is no doubt that he has a bright future as an NHL goalie, but there is the case to be made that he deserves to be Rask’s backup.

Regardless of what happens, the Bruins should feel confident with whoever is in net. Rask appears to be healthy and showed in his last two games that he’s rounding back and in the form, he was at the beginning of the season. Swayman has given Bruins fans a glimpse of the future and should be Rask’s backup the rest of the season and in the postseason.

Must Read. The Bruins are positioned perfectly for the summer. light

As the Bruins close out the regular season with their final 13 games, making the playoffs is not a given, but with the trade deadline deals made and the way their goaltenders are playing, if those two things hold up, then a playoff berth is in the Black and Gold’s future.

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