So it's understandable enough to be paying attention to the race for potential seeding in our division, which of course I understand why that would be, but I want to take a minute to look at the rest of the league as well. Obviously this is only relevant if we get past the division rounds, but here's where the other top contenders currently sit in terms of point totals ("top contender" as I see it, anyway):
Teams (likely) to finish above us: Colorado and Las Vegas -- COL is three points behind, but with three games in hand and a very soft remaining schedule
Teams that (likely) will finish beneath us: Washington, NY Islanders, Boston (all East) and Minnesota (P) and Edmonton (N) depending on how you rate them
Too close to call: Toronto (2 points behind with game in hand) and Pittsburgh (2 points behind with same number of games played)
Why does this matter? The two best teams in the league, outside our division anyway, are very likely the Avs and Golden Knights. Now, obviously only one of them can came out of the division, but (and this especially pertains to the Avs) those are probably the only teams out there who I don't feel great matching up against. Not to say we can't beat them, but it'll be very tough. The Avs would be favored against us for sure, I would imagine. And so one thing that is important is that, if we do get through our division in the playoffs, we should hope the Lightning are no worse than the #3 seeded team in the semifinal round. Either Colorado or Las Vegas is likely to be the #1 seed. You'd rather hope to wait as long as possible to not face them, because the longer it takes, the better the chance is they will be eliminated before you get to them (or the better chance we're already eliminated, in which case who cares).
This isn't to say we should be afraid of a challenge, but lets also not overlook last year's playoff road. The Bruins were legitimately excellent. Best team in the league pre-COVID. Our other opponents? In terms of regulation wins, losses, and games that ended in overtime/SO, these were their records: Columbus (25-22-23), NY Islanders (24-23-21), and Dallas (26-24-19). None of those were imposing teams. We avoided a team that always gives us fits in the Capitals (who had the third best record in the East overall) as well as those two Western teams when they got knocked out by Dallas instead. Do we care? Not really. A Cup is a Cup and we have no control over other series' and their outcomes. And if we can get through our division and avoid Colorado and Las Vegas again, I will like our chances over anybody we face once again as well.
Obviously, lets hope to be there when the third round starts and go from there.