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

Ottawa Senators

2016-2017 record:  44-28-10, 98 points

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Interesting factoid from last season:  The Sens were the only team to have a negative goal differential and make the playoffs (-2).

2017-2018 outlook:  I’m calling it right now, last season for the Senators was a fluke.  And this isn’t just sour grapes because they knocked the Boston Bruins out of the playoffs last season.  No team that allows more goals than they score should ever make it to the Conference Finals.

But I guess hockey is all about getting hot at the right time, which Ottawa did.  Erik Karlsson is one of the best players in the entire NHL, and lead his team in points.  Yes, you read that correctly, a defenseman in today’s NHL led his team in points while playing with a bad foot most of the year.  Not exactly the recipe for long-term success.  Bobby Ryan had an abysmal 25 points in 62 games in the middle of an 8 year, $50.75 million deal.  Decent core of players, but nothing special in my opinion.

Prediction:  Ottawa proves they were a flash in the pan, and miss the playoffs this season at 5th place in the Atlantic.