Boston Bruins: 3 Takeaways From a 6-2 Win Over Buffalo
By Scott Roche
When the NHL announced the new division for the 2021 season due to the coronavirus, they put teams in regions to limit travel. In the East Division, the Boston Bruins were placed with mainly the teams from the Metropolitan Division to form one of the toughest of the four divisions.
After starting the season 10-1-2, the Bruins hit a wall and fell all the way to fourth place in the division and even appeared not to be a lock for the postseason. Following two trades on April 11 by general manager Don Sweeney, the Bruins have been playing some of the best hockey in the league and that continued Saturday afternoon at the TD Garden.
In the eighth and final meeting of the season between the Bruins and the Buffalo Sabres, the Bruins did what most of the teams in the division have done this season, collect two valuable points.
Playing a solid game from the drop of the puck, the Bruins moved eight points clear of the New York Rangers for the final playoff berth in the division and for the time being, jumped over the New York Islanders for third place with a 6-2 win. The Rangers and Islanders were to play Saturday night in Long Island.
Despite the result of that game, the Black and Gold are closing in on another playoff berth thanks to collecting 14 of a possible 16 points this season against their Western New York foes.
As the Bruins head out for two games in New Jersey against the rebuilding Devils, here are three takeaways from Boston’s seventh win over the season over Buffalo and their ninth in their last 11 outings.