Chowder and Champions
Fansided

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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 8
Next
NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 03: Jack Eichel
NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 03: Jack Eichel /

Buffalo Sabres

2016-2017 record:  33-37-12, 78 points

Interesting factoid from last season:  Buffalo was a pretty good team at home, going 20-15-6 one home ice.

2017-2018 outlook:  The Sabres have one of the best young players in the game in Jack Eichel in their lineup.  They also have several other quality forwards in Ryan O’Reilly, Kyle Okposo, and Evander Kane.  However, when it comes to Buffalo, the train really stops there.

Ask a non-Buffalo Sabres fan to name some of their bottom-six forwards, and you’d probably get some blank stares. The NHL requires depth scoring to be a contender for the playoffs, and the Sabres just don’t quite have it.  Plus, consistent and quality goaltending remains an issue.

2017-2018 prediction:  Sabres repeat, and finish last in the division.

Home/Boston Bruins