Let's talk possible 1st round opponents

Who do you want the Bruins to play this postseason?

  • Islanders

    Votes: 12 21.1%
  • Penguins

    Votes: 34 59.6%
  • Capitals

    Votes: 11 19.3%

  • Total voters
    57

McDrew

Set Adrift on Memory Bliss
SoSH Member
Apr 11, 2006
4,060
Portland, OR
With the B's victory tonight, they earn the point they need to be the last team in the East to clinch a playoff spot. The Capitals, Penguins, Islanders, and Bruins will make the playoffs.

Who do you want to see in the first round?
I think I'd rather play PIT or WAS than NYI

TEAM BOS WAS PIT NYI
Overall Record (through 5/3) 31-14-6 (68) 33-14-5(71) 34-16-3(71) 31-16-5 (67)
Remaining 5: NJ, NYR, NRY, NYI, @WAS 4: NYR, PHI, PHI, BOS 3:, @PHI, BUF, BUF 4: BUF, NJ, NJ, @BOS
Max Points 78 79 77 75
Record vs BOS X L-L-L-L-X-SO-OT-W L-L-L-L-OTL-W-W-W L--L-X-SO-OT-W-W-W
Bruins Points % this season X .714. +2 GD .625, +2 GD .429, -4 GD



Edit: I give up on formatting
 
Last edited:

durandal1707

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 18, 2007
6,131
I think this Bruins squad, as presently constructed and playing to the best of their abilities, can beat any of these 3 teams.

That said, I want the Pens first. Both them and the Caps are pretty similar teams: they score a ton but are terrible defensively, not typically a reliable recipe for playoff success. However, the chances that Tom Wilson brains someone in the first round is not anywhere close enough to zero, so let the Caps play someone else. Officiating might be a problem against to Pens, especially if the refs let their excessive clutching and grabbing go like they did just over a week ago. But I'll take that officiating over the officiating that continues to enable the league's worst predator.

I think the Islanders are the biggest threat to the Bruins. They defend well, and they've had an annoying tendency to score on every Bruins mistake in the past. I still think that post-deadline that this Bruins team can beat them, but I'd rather get them after they go through a physical series with the Caps.
 

TSC

SoSH's Doug Neidermeyer
SoSH Member
Oct 25, 2007
12,280
Between here and everywhere.
Ovechkin has missed the last 4 games, played :38 seconds last night, and left the game.

If he’s not 100%, and Wilson is suspended for his antics last night - the Caps will be a much easier team to get past.
 

burstnbloom

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 12, 2005
2,761
I’d prefer the caps or pens. I went with the pens because the caps injure a bruins defenseman literally every game. The bruins can beat all of those teams if they play at their best. They can score on both those teams relatively easily. There is less margin of error with the stingy isles team so they are a team I’d rather face in the second round.
 

Pedros Midget

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Oct 20, 2004
2,126
CT
Caps all day long. Islanders seem to have the Bruins' number this year and it scares me.
 

5dice

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2001
663
west of town
No Islanders. Their regular season GF and GA look like playoff game numbers. I feel like the Caps or Pens is a coin flip re: talent and season series experiences to date.
 

RIFan

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 19, 2005
3,087
Rhode Island
Caps
Pens
.
.
.
Islanders

In that order. I don't think the Caps D and goaltending will hold up in a 7 game series. Ovie can be effective even at less than 100%, but he's always been a defensive liability if he isn't skating. I love Big Z, but he is going to get exposed by the speed and puck handling the Bruins have on the ice.

Despite their recent slump, I want no part of a the Barry Trotz led Islanders in the 1st round. Let them get beat up by the Penguins or Caps and see them in 2nd round.
 

Salem's Lot

Andy Moog! Andy God Damn Moog!
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
14,462
Gallows Hill
All three are good teams. And it’s going to be a challenge no matter which one they play. The goal should be prioritizing home ice & health the rest of the way. I would play close to a normal lineup for the next 4, then play the taxi squad in that last back to back against Washington unless a regulation win would mean home ice in the first round.
 

FL4WL3SS

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2006
14,913
Andy Brickley's potty mouth
It actually doesn't matter all that much, you have to get by 2 of the 3 in the first two rounds regardless. I guess you hope to get a depleted Washington in the first round and a beat up Islanders/Pens team in the second.

I think this year it ultimately doesn't matter, just get to the playoffs and see what happens. Pray for health.
 

veritas

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 13, 2009
3,151
Somerville, MA
Vegas has +1200 odds for the Bruins, Capitals, Penguins, +1600 for the Isles. So the Isles are a little worse on paper, but all of these series are going to be coin flips barring a major injury (Ovie?)
 

TheRealness

Member
SoSH Member
Feb 8, 2006
11,694
The Dirty Shire
I have no concerns facing any of them. Islanders will be a slog though, and I would prefer to avoid watching that. From a style perspective, the Pens and Caps would be a much more exciting series. Isles have scoring depth issues, Pens and Caps don't defend well, and their goaltending is questionable.

The only concern I have facing the Caps is them gooning it up and injuring players on the Bruins. That is the sole reason I want to avoid them, as they are slow, and Chara will be exposed in the playoffs like he was the past two years for the Bruins.
 

durandal1707

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 18, 2007
6,131
As for how the seeding is going to shake out, here's the remaining schedules:


Penguins (73 pts, 27 RW, 32 ROW) BUF BUF
Capitals (71 pts, 27 RW, 30 ROW) @NYR PHI PHI BOS
Bruins (69 pts, 24 RW, 27 ROW) NYR NYR NYI @WAS
Islanders (68 pts, 23 RW, 27 ROW) NJD NJD @BOS


I think the Bruins have the toughest schedule on paper going forward, and the Caps the easiest even with Ovechkin ailing. Philly's been playing the worst out of the 3 bottom-feeders lately, and the Caps will have a day off before hosting the Bs, who will have played the Islanders the night before. The Caps and Pens are also tied on Regulation Wins currently, so right now the Caps are my pick to get the #1 seed, especially with Buffalo starting to play a little bit better.

The Bruins can't overtake the Pens if the Pens win both of their remaining games in regulation. So I expect the Pens to shake out to be the #2 seed.

The good news for those of us looking to dodge the Caps in the first round is that the Bs are already ahead of the Isles with a game in hand, and further, have an advantage in Regulation Wins. The first game against the Rangers the Bruins will have a day off before, with the Rags traveling in right after their grudge match with the Caps tomorrow night. They're also without Panarin now as well. But it's going to be tough to get 4 points out of the NYI-WAS back-to-back, though they might be taxi squad games, so who knows.
 

CapeCodYaz

Member
SoSH Member
Sep 24, 2020
68
Haven't the Caps played pretty well against the B's the last few years? I want the B's to play and crush the Pens--can't stand Cindy. Caps goalies are rookies and could be the weakness in the playoffs---they have a deeper team than the Bruins but anything an happen in the playoffs!
 

biff_hardbody

New Member
Apr 27, 2016
317
I voted Penguins. Islanders are the biggest threat to the Bruins style wise and the Caps are the biggest threat to injure one or more key players for the Bruins. Facing only one of those two teams to make the ECF is ideal.

I also agree with all the above posts saying that the Bruins can beat all three of these teams if they play their game.
 

The Napkin

wise ass al kaprielian
Moderator
SoSH Member
Jul 13, 2002
28,534
right here
Haven't the Caps played pretty well against the B's the last few years? I want the B's to play and crush the Pens--can't stand Cindy. Caps goalies are rookies and could be the weakness in the playoffs---they have a deeper team than the Bruins but anything an happen in the playoffs!
lolz! it's funny because Cindy is a girl's name and girlz are bad at sports and weaker then manly men! lolz!
 

lexrageorge

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2007
18,096
I anticipate a long, hard-fought, potentially chippy 6 or 7 game series no matter the opponent. Nothing about the NHL playoffs is ever easy, especially the first round. I think the Bruins can beat any of the 3, or could be beaten by any of the 3. How's that for taking a position? ;)
 

Myt1

educated, civility-loving ass
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Mar 13, 2006
41,575
South Boston
I hate the Caps, and I think this version of the Bruins smokes them in six. Let the Penguins get into a rockfight and possibly take out the Islanders. Then pray that the home cooking they’ve been getting doesn’t last.
 

LogansDad

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 15, 2006
29,054
Alamogordo
lolz! it's funny because Cindy is a girl's name and girlz are bad at sports and weaker then manly men! lolz!
Thank you. Was trying to figure out a response that was both fitting but not too harsh, then I saw your post and knew it had already been done.
 

tmracht

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 19, 2009
3,070
I would prefer the Isles in the first series. I'd rather play them at both teams at relatively full strength. Would be a heckuva series. But that's more for the entertainment factor than a more winnable matchup.
 

durandal1707

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 18, 2007
6,131
One set of games done, and it looks unlikely that the Bs will face the Islanders in the first round. (Numbers shown are current/max)


1. Penguins (75/77 pts, 28/29 RW, 33/34 ROW) BUF
2. Capitals (73/79 pts, 28/31 RW, 31/34 ROW) PHI PHI BOS
3. Bruins (71/77 pts, 25/28 RW, 28/31 ROW) NYR NYI @WAS
4. Islanders (68/72 pts, 23/25 RW, 27/29 ROW) NJD @BOS


Any 2 points by the Bruins make the Islanders the 4th seed. I fully expect Pittsburgh to max out at 77 points, 29 RW, and 34 ROW after how they destroyed the Sabres today. (This would also guarantee them at least the #2 seed and home ice for the first round.) The Caps get the Flyers for a back-to-back tomorrow and Saturday, but if they win both of those games in regulation they will be the #1 seed. I'm kinda rooting for that possibility because not only would it mean dodging the Caps and Isles if the Bs clinch the 3rd seed, but also make the regular-season finale meaningless for both teams.

#1 seed feels pretty implausible for the Bruins right now. 75 points won't do it, as the Pens would still be ahead in RW. 76 could do it if the Pens lose in any fashion and the Caps only get 2 of their remaining 6 points available.
 

McDrew

Set Adrift on Memory Bliss
SoSH Member
Apr 11, 2006
4,060
Portland, OR
Given what is left, I think things probably end up Caps-Islanders and Penguins(2)-Bruins(3). I'm ok with that.
 

wiffleballhero

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 28, 2009
4,529
In the simulacrum
Given what is left, I think things probably end up Caps-Islanders and Penguins(2)-Bruins(3). I'm ok with that.
Funny, I was just popping in to say that I think it is going to be Caps/Bruins in the 2/3 game. I'd guess the Pens and Caps have a good chance of being tied at the end (at 77 points) and if they do I think the Pens are likely to have the tiebreakers (about three in on the list).

The Bruins could be in the mix too if they win out (but won't have the tiebreakers).

Edit: I guess it will really hang on the third period of this game right now vs. Philly. If the Caps win tonight, yeah they will probably be #1.
Edit, Edit: Flyers beating the Caps does probably make this the Pens' division to lose. I should have stuck with my original point.
 
Last edited:

riveraulwick

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 21, 2005
530
Right about there
In any other year I would be scoreboard watching and have a clear desire for a specific matching.

This year all I care about is team health. With a healthy lineup I feel like the Bruins can take anyone in the East. Home ice advantage is a cherry on top.
 

locknload

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 14, 2005
3,773
Haverhill MA
Haven't the Caps played pretty well against the B's the last few years? I want the B's to play and crush the Pens--can't stand Cindy. Caps goalies are rookies and could be the weakness in the playoffs---they have a deeper team than the Bruins but anything an happen in the playoffs!
I remember having the EXACT same conversation about a Bruins Caps series with a rookie goaltender then getting frigging stonewalled by Holtby.
 

Silverdude2167

Member
SoSH Member
Oct 9, 2006
4,684
Amstredam
I remember having the EXACT same conversation about a Bruins Caps series with a rookie goaltender then getting frigging stonewalled by Holtby.
I accidentally stumbled across the game 7 OT goal recently...100% goaltender interference, I am not still bitter or anything.
 

RedOctober3829

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 19, 2005
55,298
deep inside Guido territory
Sounds like the regulars will play Monday night and then Tuesday Cassidy will sit some regulars. It doesn't appear the team is worried about seeding which is the right approach IMO. Just get to the playoffs as healthy as possible. Any opponent with or without home ice is going to be a big challenge.
 

The Napkin

wise ass al kaprielian
Moderator
SoSH Member
Jul 13, 2002
28,534
right here
Isles win big. Caps tie it with :40 left and win in OT.

PIT 77 (done)

WSH 75 (BOS)
BOS 71(NYI, @WSH)
NYI 70 (@BOS)

I believe PIT/WSH are locked in 1/2 by tiebreaker
 

Salem's Lot

Andy Moog! Andy God Damn Moog!
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
14,462
Gallows Hill
Bruins are ahead in the first tiebreaker (Regulation Wins). They're tied with the Isles in the second and third tiebreakers, ROW and overall wins. After that, it's head-to-head record where the Isles have the tiebreaker.
So basically the Bruins need 1 point to stay ahead of the Islanders, correct?
 

durandal1707

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 18, 2007
6,131
So basically the Bruins need 1 point to stay ahead of the Islanders, correct?
Depends on who they get the loser point against. If they get it against the Isles, they're the #3 seed: both teams would have 72 points, but the Bruins would still be up 25-24 in RW. If it's from the Caps game, then the Islanders would take it.
 
Last edited:

durandal1707

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 18, 2007
6,131
The Caps' vaunted offense has been struggling against Philly's awful defense, and Ovechkin is ailing, so maybe it's best to get them first. Especially since the Pens have been playing very well lately.

I agree that the most important thing is staying healthy, and maybe 2nd being getting returning players like Carlo and Kase(?) some game action before the playoffs start.
 

wiffleballhero

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 28, 2009
4,529
In the simulacrum
The Bruins are most likely going to be the 3 seed.
They no longer can get the 2 seed (first tiebreaker vs. WAS).

To be the 4 seed they need to lose both games and lose the Islanders' game in regulation. If they take the Islanders to OT, they are the three seed (first tiebreaker).

If they take WAS to OT and lose, they still need to at least have been to OT vs. NYI for the tiebreaker related to regulation wins.