As of right now, the Boston Bruins currently are second in the Atlantic division, and the whole league, 17 points behind the red-hot Tampa Bay Lightning and riding a 17 point streak. The Bruins still have a core group of guys who have proven to do well in the post season, with a sprinkle of young, talented players.  The first line: Marchand, Bergeron, and Pastrnak (with the exception of Heinen with Patstrnak out with injury) is one of the top lines in the NHL. The second line: DeBrusk, Krejci, and Cehlarik prove that the Boston Bruins are more then just a “one-line” team. Our fourth line: Kuraly, Acciari, and Wagner prove that they can start any game, as Bruce Cassidy frequently uses their energy filled line to start games more recently.

Recently at the trade deadline, the Bruins traded Ryan Donato and a conditional 5th round pick in 2019 to the Minnesota Wild for Charlie Coyle, who is a Massachusetts native. Personally I like this trade, even though Coyle has not put up as many points as Donato has since the trade, he has proven that he can make good plays and has scored in a recent game that went to a shootout to extend it. The other trade the Bruins made at the deadline was a trade to the New Jersey Devils that involved Marcus Johansson coming to the Bruins in exchange for 2 picks in the next two upcoming drafts. At the March 5th game, Johansson received a clean hit early in the game, which resulted in a lung contusion, which means he will be out for a few weeks. I went to the game, and saw the hit he received, which was indeed clean but brutal. Up until then, he had been playing very well for the spoked B.

Looking into the upcoming playoffs, the Bruins will most likely have a first round match up with the Toronto Maple Leafs again. Since the Leafs have signed John Tavares, they have been playing very well, which is difficult for the Bruins. My prediction is that this series will go all 7 games, with the Bruins winning in OT in game 7. The Bruins have been playing very well, and with the return of Pastrnak coming, I can see the Bruins going far in the post-season.

Until Next Time

~RJ