Boston Bruins: Two Advantages to Closing Out Capitals Early
By Scott Roche
Following their Stanley Cup playoff win over the Washington Capitals in five games, the Boston Bruins got two days off from head coach Bruce Cassidy. They were scheduled to return to the ice Wednesday morning at Warrior Ice Arena, their practice facility, to prepare for their second-round series. Who that is against still needs to be determined.
Boston will get the winner of the other East Division series between the New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins. The Islanders hold a 3-2 series lead heading into tonight’s Game 6 on Long Island with a chance to close out the series. A Penguins win forces a deciding Game 7 Friday night in Pittsburgh.
The luxury the Bruins have in closing out the Capitals in five games allows them to sit back and rest and even watch the remaining Islanders/Penguins series with interest. But there are other luxuries that the Black and Gold have in closing out former teammate Zdeno Chara and Washington.
As Cassidy and the rest of the Bruins get ready to watch Game 6 tonight of the Islanders/Penguins series to see it is closed out or extended to a Game 7, let’s look at two advantages they since ending their first-round series Sunday night.