Broons Weekly Update: A Look Ahead To The Bruins’ Playoffs

Welp, my irrational fears have been put to rest. The Bruins are officially in the playoffs. But there is actually still a lot that could happen in what little is left of the regular season. So, as of now, the Bruins’ playoff opponents are still undecided. So let’s go through a few of their potential opponents.

Carolina Hurricanes

Currently sitting in the top Wild Card spot, the Bruins’ playoffs are currently slated to start in Carolina. This high-flying offense has been at the top of the Metropolitan Division for most of the season. Their offense has been led by Sebastian Aho, who currently sits at 36 goals, two off from his previous career-high. And unfortunately, Boston has gotten a huge helping of that offense this year.

In their three games against Carolina, the Bruins have been outscored 16-1. However, I would argue that those games happened before the Bruins really began clicking this season. Plus the Bruins also added Hampus Lindholm to fill a defensive gap that the Hurricanes exploited. Should these teams face each other in the playoffs, do not expect every game to look like their regular-season matchups.

New York Rangers

The next most likely opponents for the Bruins would be the Rangers. New York is currently tied with the Hurricanes for first in the Metro division, so even if Boston’s spot in the standings does not change, their opponent could. The Rangers have had a few big contributors to their season so far. Such as Chris Kreider having the best season of his career with an astounding 50 goals, Artemi Panarin being his always productive self, and of course the breakout season of the goalie, Igor Shesterkin.

The Bruins would undoubtedly have their hands full against the Rangers in the playoffs. But for what really feels like the first time in what feels like forever, I believe that in this series, the Bruins might just have the advantage when it comes to the bottom-six forward lines. In a series where each team has superstar talent on the first and second lines, the difference-maker could just be who can score when those top lines aren’t on the ice. And with how the bottom-six has been playing for Boston recently, I feel as though the Bruins currently have the advantage.

Toronto Maple Leafs

The Bruins right now are just one point behind the Tampa Bay Lightning in the standings. If Boston can pass Tampa, then they will most likely have to face some old friends. We’ve heard it all before, this year the Leafs are different! I mean hey, Auston Matthews has been absolutely dominant offensively and currently sits just two goals away from 60. Something that has not been done in the NHL since Steven Stamkos in 2011. But when these two teams meet, all those stats get thrown out the window.

The big question for this potential series may just be can the Leafs shake off old demons? On paper, they should be better than Boston. But the Bruins will most likely make it look as though these teams finished tied in the standings. The Leafs can rack it up on Boston, as evident in their late March win in Boston. But that was just one game, the question is could they string four of those together against a Boston team that has been very good over the last few months.

Florida Panthers

If the Bruins decide to rest up in their final few games this season and let the Washington Capitals pass them in the standings, then the Bruins’ playoffs could be drastically shortened. The Florida Panthers have been an absolute force all season. With the Avalanche in the West, Florida is considered to be the easy favorite to win their conference. The first-round match-up against them could be a disaster for Boston.

However, the Bruins would not be your regular bottom wild card team. I would still be upset if the Bruins win this series, but it wouldn’t be too surprising. I’ve probably mentioned it before, but the Boston Bruins are good. No team is unbeatable for a good team and that includes the Panthers. But in order to beat Florida, every single Bruin needs to be at the top of their game.

Some Bruins Playoff Samplers

If you want to see what any of these match-ups could look like, just watch the rest of the Bruins’ regular season. With the exception of Carolina, the Bruins will play against all of their potential playoff opponents in their few games. These games could be vital to see how each of these teams would play against Boston in an opening-round series. Of course, though, both the Bruins and their opponents may just decide not to show their hands too early. With all of the Eastern Conference standings being so tight though, I expect there will be a playoff atmosphere to these games.

The Bruins will most likely test strategies in these games to see if they can work when they are truly important. What’s great too about these games happening so close to the playoffs is that it will still be fresh in the Bruins’ minds. Heading into a series and knowing what to expect could just give the Bruins an edge. This also means that their opponents could also know what to expect.

Hi, I’m RJ Oakley, the Bruins beat writer here at Belly Up Sports. Check back here and follow me on Twitter for news and discussion on the B’s. Be sure to follow Belly Up Hockey for all your NHL needs!