After the Bruins get through the round-robin format when the NHL resumes its season, no matter where they’re seeded, any of the potential opponents will create their fair share of challenges.
At the time of the NHL’s pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic on March 12, the Bruins had built the necessary momentum for the stretch run and were gearing up for the playoffs as the best team in the league.
Well, that’s all changed. Yes, the Bruins still have the experience, veteran leadership, offensive power, solid defense and elite goaltending tandem to produce a deep playoff run, but it will be a more even playing field once games resume. The biggest issue for Boston will be how quickly the players can find their legs, reignite their game and regain that chemistry in order to embark on another trek to the Stanley Cup Final.
First, the Bruins, Capitals, Lightning and Flyers will participate in the Eastern Conference’s round-robin format, which will serve as a good warm-up scenario for all four teams.
After that, there are many questions and uncertainties as to how the rest of the postseason will play out given the unique circumstances.
Here are the potential first-round matchups for the Bruins, ranked in order of the challenges they present for Boston.
Ranking the 8 opponents the Bruins could face in the first...
1. New York Rangers
This one is interesting. Despite their record — their 79 points are the second-lowest (to Montreal) among this group — the Rangers will be a dangerous team and could be the most challenging foe for the Bruins.
2. Columbus Blue Jackets
The Bruins experienced first-hand last spring that Columbus is a big, strong, fast and heavy team. Columbus gave everything it had against the Bruins last postseason, but Boston turned out to be the better team. Now, the Blue Jackets are healthy and have Seth Jones, considered one of the best defensemen in the league, ready to go.
3. Pittsburgh Penguins
As good as the Bruins are down the middle, the Penguins have Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin as the Nos. 1 and 2 centers. Matchups could be an issue for the Bruins and that’s why it could come down to the third and fourth lines for each team to decide the winner. Pittsburgh has scoring power, and like every other team, the Penguins appear healthy for now, with the exception of forward Nick Bjugstad, who has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a lower-body injury.
4. New York Islanders
This could be the surprise horse in the playoff race. The Islanders play hard and can score in numerous ways. They have the ability to play different styles and have proven to be a motivated team. Depth could be an issue, but if they’re healthy on the back end, they defend extremely well and with a purpose. If the goaltending tandem between Semyon Varlamov and Thomas Greiss can hold up it could be the X-factor for the Islanders.
5. Florida Panthers
The Panthers have offensive firepower, and if goalie Sergei Bobrovsky returns in top form, Florida could be a problem for many teams, including Boston. Fortunately for the Bruins, they found a way to beat Bobrovsky last spring while he was playing for the Blue Jackets. No doubt that will be on both teams’ minds.
6. Carolina Hurricanes
The Hurricanes are an extremely skilled and fast team. Carolina’s biggest issue continues to be its goaltending and lack of consistency between Petr Mrazek and James Reimer. Carolina is not a heavy squad and it showed during the Eastern Conference final last spring when the Bruins finished with a four-game sweep.
7. Montreal Canadiens
Montreal has skill up front, but the Canadiens are overall not a big, strong, physical team. There are holes in the lineup, including lack of depth at forward. Defensively there are holes, too. Fortunately, they have a guy named Carey Price between the pipes and he’s the type of goalie who will benefit from the extended layoff in order to get healthy. No doubt Price can steal a series, or two, or three, or even the Cup given his ability. If he stands on his head then it will be tough for any team to beat Montreal. Plus, coach Claude Julien would have his team motivated to beat his former organization.
8. Toronto Maple Leafs
The team is still dealing with a stigma. Its inability to produce a deep run in the playoffs has haunted Toronto and that’s not likely to change this season. The Maple Leafs lack physicality and heaviness in their game and that’s a must-have quality in the postseason. While they’re not a strong defensive team, they have the ability to run-and-gun and beat you on special teams. But the Bruins are in Toronto’s head and under its skin thanks to the events of the last few seasons. Nothing will change this summer if this heated rivalry is rekindled.
At the time of the NHL’s pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic on March 12, the Bruins had built the necessary momentum for the stretch run and were gearing up for the playoffs as the best team in the league.
Well, that’s all changed. Yes, the Bruins still have the experience, veteran leadership, offensive power, solid defense and elite goaltending tandem to produce a deep playoff run, but it will be a more even playing field once games resume. The biggest issue for Boston will be how quickly the players can find their legs, reignite their game and regain that chemistry in order to embark on another trek to the Stanley Cup Final.
First, the Bruins, Capitals, Lightning and Flyers will participate in the Eastern Conference’s round-robin format, which will serve as a good warm-up scenario for all four teams.
After that, there are many questions and uncertainties as to how the rest of the postseason will play out given the unique circumstances.
Here are the potential first-round matchups for the Bruins, ranked in order of the challenges they present for Boston.
Ranking the 8 opponents the Bruins could face in the first...
1. New York Rangers
This one is interesting. Despite their record — their 79 points are the second-lowest (to Montreal) among this group — the Rangers will be a dangerous team and could be the most challenging foe for the Bruins.
2. Columbus Blue Jackets
The Bruins experienced first-hand last spring that Columbus is a big, strong, fast and heavy team. Columbus gave everything it had against the Bruins last postseason, but Boston turned out to be the better team. Now, the Blue Jackets are healthy and have Seth Jones, considered one of the best defensemen in the league, ready to go.
3. Pittsburgh Penguins
As good as the Bruins are down the middle, the Penguins have Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin as the Nos. 1 and 2 centers. Matchups could be an issue for the Bruins and that’s why it could come down to the third and fourth lines for each team to decide the winner. Pittsburgh has scoring power, and like every other team, the Penguins appear healthy for now, with the exception of forward Nick Bjugstad, who has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a lower-body injury.
4. New York Islanders
This could be the surprise horse in the playoff race. The Islanders play hard and can score in numerous ways. They have the ability to play different styles and have proven to be a motivated team. Depth could be an issue, but if they’re healthy on the back end, they defend extremely well and with a purpose. If the goaltending tandem between Semyon Varlamov and Thomas Greiss can hold up it could be the X-factor for the Islanders.
5. Florida Panthers
The Panthers have offensive firepower, and if goalie Sergei Bobrovsky returns in top form, Florida could be a problem for many teams, including Boston. Fortunately for the Bruins, they found a way to beat Bobrovsky last spring while he was playing for the Blue Jackets. No doubt that will be on both teams’ minds.
6. Carolina Hurricanes
The Hurricanes are an extremely skilled and fast team. Carolina’s biggest issue continues to be its goaltending and lack of consistency between Petr Mrazek and James Reimer. Carolina is not a heavy squad and it showed during the Eastern Conference final last spring when the Bruins finished with a four-game sweep.
7. Montreal Canadiens
Montreal has skill up front, but the Canadiens are overall not a big, strong, physical team. There are holes in the lineup, including lack of depth at forward. Defensively there are holes, too. Fortunately, they have a guy named Carey Price between the pipes and he’s the type of goalie who will benefit from the extended layoff in order to get healthy. No doubt Price can steal a series, or two, or three, or even the Cup given his ability. If he stands on his head then it will be tough for any team to beat Montreal. Plus, coach Claude Julien would have his team motivated to beat his former organization.
8. Toronto Maple Leafs
The team is still dealing with a stigma. Its inability to produce a deep run in the playoffs has haunted Toronto and that’s not likely to change this season. The Maple Leafs lack physicality and heaviness in their game and that’s a must-have quality in the postseason. While they’re not a strong defensive team, they have the ability to run-and-gun and beat you on special teams. But the Bruins are in Toronto’s head and under its skin thanks to the events of the last few seasons. Nothing will change this summer if this heated rivalry is rekindled.
