Aeroforce
Registered User
Expectedly, Tampa is catching up in the Games Played column and climbing the standings accordingly. They should easily pass the Habs and Florida when the games in hand are played.
Expectedly, Tampa is catching up in the Games Played column and climbing the standings accordingly. They should easily pass the Habs and Florida when the games in hand are played.
With the Bruins record at home in the playoffs for the last while,quite awhile actually,other then 2011 and against the Leafs ,first really isn’t that important to me.I wish game 7 would have been in St.Louis .We're guaranteed the #1 slot in the Atlantic until December 14th. We have a winning streak of 7 games, and Bergeron only played in 2 of them. Getting guaranteed home ice for the ECF is a little more dicey - a testament to how BAD the Atlantic is as a whole. The Atlantic has 6/8 teams still in single digit regulation wins - the Metro has it flip-flopped, with 6/8 in double digits.
Is it weird to feel better about this team's chances than last year's team? Even at Game 7 of the SCF, I walked in thinking it was a coin flip, and was almost resigned to losing even after the first period. I feel like this team has to potential to do even better than last year's team...which basically only leaves the Cup. But simultaneously, I don't think we'll actually WIN the cup. It's a weird quantum box.
Agree obviously winning is great,but personally I would be fine with them finishing as a wildcard.i could care less about home ice after last season. means absolutely nothing
That DIFF +34 is not too shabbyI think it is safe to say that none of us saw this coming
What I have learned is the Bruins are furious about losing Game 7 to St. Louis not because they lost but because the game was so one-sided.
The Caps still scare me. They're big, mean and uber talented.
While "two wild cards to the Metro" is by far the safest bet, I wouldn't sleep on Tampa. I think everyone was surprised that they had a pretty bad start. Tampa's 5 points over 0.500, while WC2 Flyers are only 7 points. If the next two games for either/both teams go Tampa's way, that gap closes, although you'd probably give the edge to the Flyers, since their future schedule is less crowded. Add in injuries (which can go for or against any team), and there's a good-sized opening.
Bruins can't continue this 0.500 streak forever, can they? They'd likely be in the playoffs with 96 points unless there's some freaky standings (oh, hello there 2014-5!), but it would be from a far less comfortable position in terms of seeding. As we are now, we'd be playing the Penguins, who I'd actually prefer over the Flyers, especially from a "play 4 rounds without getting totally banged up" point of view.
Montreal and Toronto fighting it out for one spot would warm my heart
In a perfect world Buffalo gets the slot and Toronto and Montreal get a tee time
its looking a lot like 5 teams out of the other side
we got Washington and islanders now with clear sailing to the finish
we got huricanes and penguins already 10 games over 500... well on way for 100 point seasons
and then Philadelphia has come out of a slow start to get 7 games over 500... they are on the uptick
it leaves just 3 spots for our side...
we got only the 1 team with clear sailing... boston would need a historical collapse to miss the playoffs. 500 hockey takes us to 96 points...
im not sure any of the other 4 contenders in our division will get to 96 points...
tampa is obviously the team though we all think will suddenly get their crap together and have a 50 point second half of the year and get themselves to the promised land
now that leaves florida/buffalo/Toronto/montreal in competition for ONE SPOT
they've all played like dogs breakfest so far. they all pretty much allow as many goals as they score. they all have more losses/loser points then they do wins. I could see the winning team from this race for final spot failing to achieve a 90 point season
my betting money is on florida… they have been held back by very questionable goaltending so far. bob has pedigree to do a lot better in second half.
Toronto really doesnt have much room for improvement... they are going to run their goalie into the ground. they got no cap space to tinker with. none of their star players are too interested in playing defense.
montreal doesnt have the horses for the race and price hasnt been all that great for a few years now
buffalo is my dark horse... if they make a couple improvements to their team those young kids might pull it off.
ive been saying since this past offseason Toronto is in a world of hurt and my opinion hasnt changed... I dont see them making the playoffs even if there is a spot open for them still due to the sluggish play of florida and buffalo
Florida's D is as bad as Toronto but Toronto is much deeper up front. The goalies are a wash. Barring injuries for Toronto they make the PO and not Fla, Buffalo ir Montreal.
It has been a rough couple of weeks but...
That said the B's need to start winning games again - what is becoming clear is the 2 wild card slots seem to be going to teams in the Metro
Losing games to LA, Ottawa and Chicago shouldn't happen and a loss earlier this year to Detroit also stung.
View attachment 294057
View attachment 294061
True . I don’t want to play the Leafs or Tampa in round 1 . maybe it would be more ideal if they finished 2nd and 3rd in the division. After that , who really knows how it will play out as anything can and will happen in the first round of the playoffs.Boston, as a division winner, could end up facing a stronger opponent during the first round in the wildcard spot than if it were to end up second or third in the division.