The Boston Bruins are in the thick of the playoff race, holding onto the first wildcard spot. But with a daunting schedule ahead, every game feels like a must-win. Charlie McAvoy summed it up perfectly after a tough loss to Nashville, emphasizing the importance of each remaining matchup.
According to Tankathon, the Bruins face the toughest road ahead, with their opponents boasting a combined points percentage of .613. In the next stretch, they’ll play 13 games, only four of which are against teams not in the playoff hunt.
As the standings tighten, the Bruins are laser-focused on their performance. Marco Sturm captured the team's mindset after a decisive 6-1 victory, saying, “We just go game by game...
Every point is a good point.” It’s all about collecting as many points as possible without getting lost in the standings' chaos.
The road presents a particular challenge, with eight of the remaining 13 games away from home. The Bruins have struggled on the road this season, posting a 12-14-7 record, the weakest among current playoff contenders.
Their recent road form hasn’t been stellar either, with a 1-3-6 record in the last 10 games. However, Sturm remains optimistic about picking up points wherever possible.
Pavel Zacha echoed this sentiment after a narrow loss in Montreal, emphasizing the playoff-like intensity of each game. The Bruins are neck-and-neck with the Red Wings, sharing identical records, which makes their upcoming clash a pivotal four-point game.
The journey doesn’t get easier with trips to face strong teams like Buffalo, Tampa, Raleigh, and Columbus-all of whom have been on fire lately. Since December, the Bruins have the league’s sixth-best record, but teams like the Sabres and Lightning have outperformed them in that span.
Nikita Zadorov stressed the need to focus on their own game and seize control of their playoff destiny. The Bruins will also face formidable Central Division opponents and the Tampa Bay Lightning at home before wrapping up the season against the New Jersey Devils.
Home ice has been a fortress for the Bruins, with a stellar 26-9-1 record at TD Garden. But challenges remain, as they’ve struggled against teams like the Lightning in recent matchups.
With 13 games to go, MoneyPuck gives the Bruins a 67.8% chance of making the playoffs. The path is fraught with challenges, but the Bruins have already exceeded expectations this season. To secure their playoff spot, they’ll need to conquer their road woes and take down some of the league’s hottest teams.