Boston Bruins Daunting Postseason Path to Stanley Cup Glory
Grant White
Host · Writer
Stanley Cup Final vs. Dallas Stars
If the Bruins can survive the war of attrition, they must overcome yet another juggernaut in the Stanley Cup Final. The one team they likely wouldn't want to meet in the finals is the Dallas Stars.
The Stars play a similar brand of hockey to the Bruins, albeit improved in every way. Dallas has a tighter checking defensive system, with superior production metrics and better execution. Like the Hurricanes, the Stars get output from every part of their lineup, making them one of the most imposing teams in this year's playoffs.
Coming out of the Atlantic Division, there is no unobstructed sightline to the Stanley Cup for the Bruins. Boston would need to run a gauntlet of opponents just to make the championship round, and even then, they would likely enter the finals as an underdog.
It's not worth backing the B's at their current Stanley Cup futures price. At +1200, there are more profitable ways to back the Bruins and other teams with more attractive odds to consider.
Playoff Position - TBD
Let's start off by acknowledging that postseason matchups are not yet set. There are still a few games left in the regular season, at least some of which will influence who the Boston Bruins face in the opening round. As such, this isn't a preview or forecast of what to expect but what would amount to the most challenging path the Bruins have to walk to capture their seventh Stanley Cup in franchise history.
Opening Round vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
This might sound a little counterintuitive, but the worst scenario for the Bruins could be finishing first in the Atlantic Division. That would set up a showdown with the scorching Tampa Bay Lightning.
Since the All-Star break, the Lightning have the tenth-best points percentage in the NHL. Still, their goals-for percentage remains below expected, and their PDO continues to hover below 1.000, implying the Bolts are progression candidates before the end of the year.
Facing off against a perennial powerhouse hardly seems to be an appropriate reward for a division-winning Bruins side. The B's would be better off finishing second in the division and taking on the perpetually underachieving Toronto Maple Leafs.
Anything could happen over the final few days of the regular season, but the worst outcome for Boston would be a showdown versus the Lightning.
Second Round vs. Florida Panthers
In Gary Bettman's NHL, all paths to the postseason run through divisional opponents. That means the Bruins will inevitably have to face off against another one of the league's finest in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Undoubtedly, the most daunting opponent would be taking on the defending Eastern Conference Champion Florida Panthers.
Florida has a leg up on the Bruins in virtually every facet of the game. The Panthers attempt more scoring chances and allow fewer, tilting the analytics decidedly in their favor. Moreover, if the Bruins end up second in the division, they would have to beat the Panthers without home-ice advantage.
It's no easy feat emerging from the Atlantic Division half of the bracket, and the Panthers would offer the most resistance in Round 2.
Conference Finals vs. Carolina Hurricanes
The Bruins' path to Stanley Cup glory only intensifies as the postseason progresses. Inevitably, they will face a top contender in the Eastern Conference Final. The toughest of which is the Carolina Hurricanes.
Entering the season's final week, the Canes continue to battle for the President's Trophy while boasting the top analytics in the NHL. Carolina is one point back of the New York Rangers for the top spot in the league, and their 56.9% expected goals-for rating is over 2.5% higher than the next closest Eastern Conference team.
Boston's most sincere challenge would come versus the Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final.
Stanley Cup Final vs. Dallas Stars
If the Bruins can survive the war of attrition, they must overcome yet another juggernaut in the Stanley Cup Final. The one team they likely wouldn't want to meet in the finals is the Dallas Stars.
The Stars play a similar brand of hockey to the Bruins, albeit improved in every way. Dallas has a tighter checking defensive system, with superior production metrics and better execution. Like the Hurricanes, the Stars get output from every part of their lineup, making them one of the most imposing teams in this year's playoffs.
Coming out of the Atlantic Division, there is no unobstructed sightline to the Stanley Cup for the Bruins. Boston would need to run a gauntlet of opponents just to make the championship round, and even then, they would likely enter the finals as an underdog.
It's not worth backing the B's at their current Stanley Cup futures price. At +1200, there are more profitable ways to back the Bruins and other teams with more attractive odds to consider.
Playoff Position - TBD
Let's start off by acknowledging that postseason matchups are not yet set. There are still a few games left in the regular season, at least some of which will influence who the Boston Bruins face in the opening round. As such, this isn't a preview or forecast of what to expect but what would amount to the most challenging path the Bruins have to walk to capture their seventh Stanley Cup in franchise history.
