After 18 games it has been a Magic Carpet Ride......The next 18 will really tell us what we really have

[Fenway]

How we got here

11 home games, only two back-to-backs and we have played quite a few teams going nowhere. However, this team has not had the home stinker that we have been accustomed to.

What lies ahead

The next 18 which ends the calendar year offers 10 more home games and the first of 3 trips out west. They will play both Vegas and Colorado home and home and two in Newark 5 days apart with 2 back to backs sandwiched around Christmas.

Obviously, they won't go 16-2 in the next 18 but 12-6 or 13-5 looks doable.

Click to read more...

 

[Aussie Bruin]

I'm ready to see the Bruins be properly tested and I think the players are too. Yeah they're not going to win them all but I back them to hold their own and keep banking consistent points.

The 3 pairs of quick turnaround home/home games against quality opponents and the 2 in New Jersey each side of Christmas are going to be fun. A chance to build a little heat and rivalry across a couple of contests. Bring it on.

 

[Fenway]

I'm ready to see the Bruins be properly tested and I think the players are too. Yeah they're not going to win them all but I back them to hold their own and keep banking consistent points.

The 3 pairs of quick turnaround home/home games against quality opponents and the 2 in New Jersey each side of Christmas are going to be fun. A chance to build a little heat and rivalry across a couple of contests. Bring it on.

@Aussie Bruin

It's November 20th and they already know they are a playoff team.

The tricky part will be on Monty's staff figuring out wear and tear before the real season starts in late April.

 

[Aussie Bruin]

@Aussie Bruin

It's November 20th and they already know they are a playoff team.

The tricky part will be on Monty's staff figuring out wear and tear before the real season starts in late April.

For sure. One of the good things about a hot start is it gives you options about how to handle the back half of the season, unless too many injuries get in the way. Typically you'll want to cool off just a little through the middle stretch (not too much - we saw what happened when the Yankees went ice cold half-way through the MLB season and never really recovered) and manage your players' minutes well, and then heat up again for the last month or so while ideally still giving your stars a game or two off in the final week.

Once playoff G1 starts, nothing that went before matters, so you just want to be in the best possible shape when that first postseason puck drops.

 

[13Hockey]

Currently we have the 32nd strength of schedule

The easiest in the league

There will definitely be some up and downs during this difficult stretch but I’m ready for the iron of the league

 

[DKH]

A significant positive is they are back late Wednesday and don’t leave their homes again until Dec 4

 

[smithformeragent]

Right now they’re like Rocky at the beginning montage of Rocky 3.

We’ll see how they hold up against Mr. T.

 

[UncleRico]

Right now it’s all icing on the cake for me. I did not expect them to have this record with all the injuries to start the season. Tough stretch coming up, but their play so far has alleviated so much pressure.

 

[PaulD]

How we got here

View attachment 610355

11 home games, only two back-to-backs and we have played quite a few teams going nowhere. However, this team has not the home stinker that we have been accustomed to.

What lies ahead

The next 18 which ends the calendar year offers 10 more home games and the first of 3 trips out west. They will play both Vegas and Colorado home and home and two in Newark 5 days apart with 2 back to backs sandwiched around Christmas.

Obviously, they won't go 16-2 in the next 18 but 12-6 or 13-5 looks doable.



View attachment 610356​

Wow ! Gonna be a great 6 weeks !

 

[bb74]

@Aussie Bruin

It's November 20th and they already know they are a playoff team.

The tricky part will be on Monty's staff figuring out wear and tear before the real season starts in late April.

Unfortunately no cap space to sit guys and call up yutes later in the season (at least not for the moment.)

 

[sarge88]

Even if they go 9-9, that gets them to 50 points by NYE.

I don‘t think anyone had 50 by then last year, aside from Florida, maybe?

 

[Bruinfanatic]

Just enjoying the ride so far never thought with the injuries they had that they would have done anywhere near what they have.I tend to be all about the playoffs,I’m enjoying this season it’s been great obviously,they won’t keep this pace up .This season I’m really kind of waiting for the playoffs it might be the last kick at the cat ,sorry I love cats .Lol

 

[LouJersey]

i' m not afraid of that schedule at all.

11-5-2 at worst

 

[Number8]

Have to anticipate some bumps in the road coming up and that is to the good. This team will face some adversity and will be the better for it.

IMO this team is exciting enough right now that the big question is what parts we need to really go for it in the playoffs. The next 6 weeks or so will go a long way to helping identify those areas.

Good teams take advantage of games against generally weaker opponents. Dare I say really good teams absolutely dominate against generally weaker opponents.

 

[chizzler]

Have to anticipate some bumps in the road coming up and that is to the good. This team will face some adversity and will be the better for it.

IMO this team is exciting enough right now that the big question is what parts we need to really go for it in the playoffs. The next 6 weeks or so will go a long way to helping identify those areas.

Good teams take advantage of games against generally weaker opponents. Dare I say really good teams absolutely dominate against generally weaker opponents.

This.
It’s along season. I’ll just enjoy it and won’t make any predictions. Its a very long season and injuries and lulls happen.

 

[Therick67]

They’ve put themselves in great position banking all these points.

I say bring it on, let’s see how good they are.

 

[missingchicklet]

There's strangeness and surprises in the standings so far. Hard to know to a good degree just by looking at the standings who is legit and who is not. Things are starting to sort themselves out slowly but surely.

Pre-season I had the stretch between 11/21 - 12/19 as being crucial. I was hoping the Bs would enter that stretch at least .500. Getting Marchy and Charlie back earlier than expected has combined with the stupid great start by the Bs in making this upcoming stretch not horribly crucial in making the playoffs. While I expect the Bs to be well over .500 during this period of games, even .500 wouldn't be close to a disaster.

I knew NJ was going to be improved, but I had no idea they would be 15-3 improved. Makes the initial tough stretch I mentioned earlier extended by a week since the Bs play them twice in late Dec.

Only 3 of the next 17 games are against sub-.500 teams. The vast majority of the games are in fact against teams in the top 3 in their respective divisions. Things are about to get real. I'm pumped beyond belief to see how the Bs fare.

 

[NeelyDan]

I think this slate will ultimately end up strengthening their resolve when we look back at it

 

[quietbruinfan]

Just enjoying the ride so far never thought with the injuries they had that they would have done anywhere near what they have.I tend to be all about the playoffs,I’m enjoying this season it’s been great obviously,they won’t keep this pace up .This season I’m really kind of waiting for the playoffs it might be the last kick at the cat ,sorry I love cats .Lol

Derek Sanderson's second favorite expression. ...

 

[quietbruinfan]

I like competition and competitive games. So, I am looking forward to this to a great degree. I am hoping they go a little above .500. .500 would be okay.

 

[KnightofBoston]

i' m not afraid of that schedule at all.

11-5-2 at worst

More concerned about injuries

But when you finally play as the hammer instead of the nail, you certainly start to see those injuries happen less frequently

 

[LouJersey]

More concerned about injuries

But when you finally play as the hammer instead of the nail, you certainly start to see those injuries happen less frequently

100 percent. You think twice when you know you’ll have ten guys on you instead of the old Cassidy way of head down, skate back to the bench and hopefully get a power play. Bruins on pace to basically double their fighting majors this season. I looked at Vegas. 2 fights in 19 games.

 

[The National]

We’ll see how they do, not too concerned. I do think a little struggle/rough patch at somepoint will be good for them to work through. Don’t want them breezing thru the season.

I think they can beat any team in the league though, just stay healthy.

 

[rocketdan9]

My guess

10-5-3

Teams like Avs, TBL, Panthers, Canes don't suck on the PP. Bruins need to try to prevent/minimize unnecessary penalties

 

[ODAAT]

How we got here

View attachment 610355

11 home games, only two back-to-backs and we have played quite a few teams going nowhere. However, this team has not the home stinker that we have been accustomed to.

What lies ahead

The next 18 which ends the calendar year offers 10 more home games and the first of 3 trips out west. They will play both Vegas and Colorado home and home and two in Newark 5 days apart with 2 back to backs sandwiched around Christmas.

Obviously, they won't go 16-2 in the next 18 but 12-6 or 13-5 looks doable.



View attachment 610356​

some real good teams out there but I would suspect many of those teams will be saying to themselves that they are the one`s who are about to be tested by playing the league`s top team

This edition of the B`s now has 4 lines, all can hurt you a bit offensively, play an in your face aggressive style that many teams so far have shown they can handle for 20-40 minutes but simply can`t for 60, solid between the pipes

Listen, this team isn`t going to win em` all, they`ll have some dips in play, this start gives them the luxury to absorb those down moments. I`m not scared of playing on team in this league, those teams should be the one`s afraid and if you had of suggested to me prior to the season that this would be the scenario, I`d tell ya to hop in the car, I`m taking you to an AA meeting