Boston Bruins: Previewing the Team’s Final Stretch

By Dan Orencole | Apr 4, 2016

Jan 23, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (63) gets set to shoot the puck during the second period against the Columbus Blue Jackets at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /

With only 3 games remaining in the regular season, the Boston Bruins find themselves battling several teams for a final playoff spot.

Following the 2016 NHL trade deadline, the Boston Bruins got out to a quick 4-0-1 record. Since that five game stretch, the Bruins have gone 3-6-1. During this stretch, the Bruins were struggling to score goals. These past two games for the Bruins, against two quality teams in the St. Louis Blues and the Chicago Blackhawks, have shown reasons for hope as the Bruins look to lock up a playoff spot. In these two games combined, the Bruins have scored ten goals. Prior to these two games, the Bruins had only scored ten goals combined in their previous seven games.

If the scoring remains steady in the final three games, the Bruins have a good chance at making the playoffs as a seven or eight seed. In the final three games, all three teams the Bruins will face, the Carolina Hurricanes, Detroit Red Wings and Ottawa Senators, rank in the bottom half of the league in goals allowed per game.

More importantly, Detroit and Carolina struggle to score, both ranked in the bottom half of the league for goals scored per game. The Bruins have struggled mightily on the defensive end of the ice this season, so these opponents are a plus as the team closes out the year with playoff hopes.

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Below are the remaining schedules for the Bruins and the three teams they are competing with for these final playoff spots. If the Bruins win out and the New York Rangers or Tampa Bay Lighting lose their remaining games, the Bruins would jump these two teams in the standings. However, the more likely scenario involves the three teams listed below.

Bruins:
Away games: None
Home games: Carolina, Detroit, and Ottawa.
Away record: 25-13-3
Home record: 16-17-5

Flyers:
Away games: Detroit, New York Islanders
Home games: Toronto, Pittsburgh
Away record: 17-16-6
Home record: 22-10-7

Red Wings:
Away games: Boston, NY Rangers
Home games: Flyers
Away record: 19-15-5
Home record: 21-13-6

Islanders:
Away games: Washington Capitals, NY Rangers
Home games: Tampa Bay, Buffalo, Philadelphia
Away record: 18-16-5
Home record: 24-10-4

Looking at this scenario, most Bruins fans would be feeling pretty good about all the games remaining being played on home ice at the TD Garden. However, the team has struggled this season playing in front of the home crowd. With the playoffs on the line, the Bruins should have extra motivation to close out the season strong in front of their home fans. The Garden will be packed and the fans will be in playoff mode.

With these schedules left on the docket for each of these teams, I believe the Bruins will secure the eighth seed, pushing out the Detroit Red Wings. The Red Wings three games left face them with two road games in two of the most home friendly venues, the TD Garden and the Madison Square Garden. I see the Bruins finishing with 95 points, going 2-0-1 in the final three games, with the overtime loss to Ottawa. The Red Wings will end up with 94 points, going 1-1-1 in their final three games.

This Bruins team does not have the firepower and defensive unit to escape the first round of the NHL playoffs. While anything can happen in the NHL playoffs, this team is not good enough and if they advance past the first round of the playoffs, it will be an extremely surprising, yet pleasant surprise for Boston fans.

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