With my personal life settling down and hopefully me getting back into my apartment today, I am completely focused and committed to the last three Bruins games of the season. But before we look ahead, let’s look back.
Stand By Me
The Bruins were sitting in the eighth playoff spot sandwiched between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Washington Capitals. As of today, the Bruins are in a tie with the Flyers. The Flyers and Bruins have 91 points. The Flyers and Bruins have identical records.
The Bruins are one point behind the Ottawa Senators and two points behind the New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers, who won in overtime last night against the Pittsburgh Penguins. With one game left against each team, as well as the Buffalo Sabres, the Bruins can snatch the points away from the teams in front of them and gain a higher position in the Eastern Conference.
The Bruins need to go at least 1-2-0 over their final three games. But winning at least two games might bump them up as high as fifth place. As of right now, the Bruins best chances are finishing seventh with a 28% chance.
Root, Root, Root for the Team Helpers
Tonight the Devils (vs. Islanders), Capitals (vs. Hurricanes) and Senators (vs. Canadiens) are all in action. That means I’m hoping the Islanders, Hurricanes (on second thought, maybe Capitals?) and Canadiens (ick!) are all victorious.
I couldn’t figure out how the Capitals weren’t eliminated from the playoffs yet since they have 88 points, but then I saw the Hurricanes are sitting in third with 90 points.
Tomorrow, the Rangers play the Islanders and the Flyers play the Penguins.
Divide and Conquer
The Bruins hosted their division rivals, the Senators, on Saturday and shut them out 4-0! Tim Thomas earned his third shutout of the season making 34 saves. P.J. Axelsson, Marco Sturm, Shane Hnidy and David Krejci scored for the Bruins.
On Sunday, the Bruins were in Buffalo and Alex Auld got the nod in goal. Krejci scored a shorthanded goal and the Sabres scored a power play in the first period. The game went to overtime where the Sabres scored the game-winner 39 seconds in.
The Bruins closed out their weekend gaining a possible three out of four points.
The Bruins play in New Jersey tomorrow, in Ottawa on Friday and close out the regular season back home on Saturday against the Sabres.
Movin’ and Buzzin’
The Bruins recalled forward Jeff Hoggan on emergency recall after Jeremy Reich was injured during Saturday’s game. Reich suffered a head injury after being elbowed by Senators’ enforcer Chris Neil. Mark Stuart was also shaken up during the game, injuring his right arm while being hit behind the Bruins’ goal, but returned to action.
Hoggan was returned to Providence today.
The Bruins had yesterday off from practice, but listed defenseman Andrew Alberts day-to-day. Alberts is looking to get back into the line-up after suffering headaches. Alberts might only need one full-contact practice before returning to the line-up, which could come as soon as tomorrow’s game.
Center Marc Savard and defenseman Andrew Ference remain out of the line-up, but could be available for the games this weekend.
Patrice Bergeron passed his psych test last week, but was not cleared for contact by the neurologist. He will be re-evaluated in another week, taking away any chance of returning during the regular season.
Despite the day off from practice, some Bruins were busy getting their heads shaved for charity. Lead by defenseman Aaron Ward, five other players participated in “Cuts for a Cause”. Ward along with Milan Lucic, Bergeron, Alberts, Stuart and Dennis Wideman got their cuts, and a lot of local coverage from all the news stations.
6 Comments
The Caps are hot and I don't see how they could not collect 4 points vs Tampa and Florida. They should qualify for playoffs.
The Flyers are playing 2 games against the Penguins, and 1 vs the Devils (who are now qualified). I have no clue how they will react vs these opponents. I have a feeling they'll collect 3 points overall
Our B's have a perfect control of their destiny. In case of a tie, they have won their season series vs Philly and Washington. The B's must collect at least one point in every games left, in order to secure a spot in series
The Senators !!!!! That team is actually going nowhere. I saw the Habs-Sens game and there is no chemistry in that team now. They are pathetic to watch (but don't wake them up !). They face the Leafs (they always struggled against them) while completing their season against Boston. Honestly Ottawa is in serious danger.
1. Posted by yves | April 2, 2008 9:01 AM
As Bruins fans, what team would we like vs the B's during the first round ?
I don't want to face the Caps (if they finish 3rd and the B's 6th), or of course the Habs, where they could face another hot goalie in the net for Montreal
I can tell you in Mtl they'd like to meet the B's in the 1st round, thinking it would automatically give the Habs their ticket to second round !
2. Posted by yves | April 2, 2008 12:47 PM
I really can't believe the dive Ottawa has taken. Who would've thought?
Washington is definitely the sleeping giant that woke up just in time to be in the race.
You're right about the Bruins controlling their own destiny. Too much energy gets focused on other teams this time of year, and it's a little scary when your playoff hopes can easily lie in another team's hands. But the Bruins have their own job to do, and aren't going to worry about the teams above or behind them. Just get the two points, and move on.
For my preference in the playoffs, I'd take anybody but Montreal. Pittsburgh, Carolina (or Washington), New Jersey (if we make it to 5th)... give me any one of those teams, but definitely not Montreal.
And if it does turn out to be Montreal, one never knows what can happen in a playoff series.
3. Posted by Jaci | April 2, 2008 1:33 PM
Personally I would prefer Pitt or DC to Montreal or NJ... I don't think either have the goaltending or defense needed to win in the playoffs. Certainly less so than the other two.
And a correction... Boston would not have the tiebreaker with DC as they would need to have more wins than Boston to tie us point-wise. Therefore, they would win on that account.
4. Posted by Doh | April 2, 2008 1:39 PM
Doh,
Now that the B's collected 1 point in Newark, you're saying that a win against Ottawa on Friday night and the B's are in officially ?
Thanks to Sidney and his friends for the win against Philly. Finally a break.
5. Posted by yves | April 2, 2008 10:44 PM
The only team that helped the Bruins out tonight were the Canadiens (of all teams!) by beating the Sabres.
And to answer your question yves, if the Bruins win against the Sens tomorrow, the Bruins' chances of making the playoffs is 97.6%. There's no possible way the Bruins will clinch tomorrow now.
If the Devils or Panthers win, the Senators will clinch. Then again, if the Senators win, they'll clinch. If the Hurricanes win (vs. Panthers), the 'Canes will clinch.
6. Posted by Jaci | April 3, 2008 11:45 PM