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.