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Boston Bruins rivalry roundup: Scoping out the Atlantic Division for 2017-2018

By Chad Zimmermann

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 19: Bruins fans cheer on their team during the third period of Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Ottawa Senators at TD Garden on April 19, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Senators defeat the Bruins 1-0. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 19: Bruins fans cheer on their team during the third period of Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Ottawa Senators at TD Garden on April 19, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Senators defeat the Bruins 1-0. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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Last season, the Boston Bruins finished third in their division, making the playoffs after two years on the outside looking in.  Having already done a Bruins-centric preview, let’s take a look at the entire Atlantic Division.

Earlier this month I wrote a post analyzing how I thought the Boston Bruins would perform this upcoming season.  In said post, I wrote that I believed the Bruins would build on their relatively successful 2016-2017 season.  With the fact that most of the team is returning, and some younger guys have an extra year of experience under their belt, I predicted that the Bruins would win the division with a 48-24-10 record and 106 points.

A bold prediction?  Sure, I guess you could say that.  But if you look at the division as a whole, I think it’s a realistic proposition.

Think I’m crazy?  Well, let’s go team-by-team and I’ll show you why I think the way I do.  To start, here’s how the division standings ended up last season:

1 – Montreal Canadiens:  47-26-9, 103 points
2 – Ottawa Senators:  44-28-10, 98 points
3 – Boston Bruins:  44-31-7, 95 points
4 – Toronto Maple Leafs:  40-27-15, 95 points
5 – Tampa Bay Lightning:  42-30-10, 94 points
6 – Florida Panthers:  35-36-11, 81 points
7 – Detroit Red Wings:  33-36-13, 79 points
8 – Buffalo Sabres:  33-37-12, 78 points

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