Boston Bruins rivalry roundup: Scoping out the Atlantic Division for 2017-2018
![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)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/203ed0f02ea56f5aa2fc7514da679de42d8a592210888df1232ef5843b00aa5a.jpg)
Florida Panthers
2016-2017 record: 35-36-11, 81 points
Interesting factoid from last season: Not a single Panthers player eclipsed 55 points during the regular season.
2017-2018 outlook: Would you believe that 40 of the Panthers games last season were one goal games or decided in the shootout? To make matters worse, they lost 22 of those games. For a team that has problems with scoring, it doesn’t look like the issue has been addressed. For example, three of the top six point scorers from last season are no longer on their roster. Johnathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith both went to Vegas in the Expansion Draft.
The man, the myth, the legend, Jaromir Jagr is still waiting for a contract. Unless guys like Jonathan Huberdeau and Aleksander Barkov have MVP-type seasons, it’s going to be a long year in South Florida.
Prediction: Young stars and defense shine, but not brightly enough. Florida finishes 6th in the division.