Points record

GoJeff!

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I don't put a lot of time into hockey, but have noticed the Bruins are on track to break the points record.

Is this a thing anyone cares about? Will they ease up to prep for the playoffs and not break it? How excited should I be about all this?
 

LogansDad

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1) Sort of, but more the fans than the players, from what I have seen in interviews. Their goal is the Stanley Cup.

2) I don't believe they will ease up, this team is relentless.

3) You're watching one of the best teams in history, so I would say you can venture into the "being excited" range of feelings.
 

Ed Hillel

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I want them to play all out all the way through. Not only is it a chance at history, but I just don't like the idea of pulling the foot off the gas pedal right before the playoffs and then needing to ramp up intensity again.
 

Vinho Tinto

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I want them to play all out all the way through. Not only is it a chance at history, but I just don't like the idea of pulling the foot off the gas pedal right before the playoffs and then needing to ramp up intensity again.
This is where I am at. Their first round match up will be vs a team that had to fight for the final spot. No point coming out flat.
 

FL4WL3SS

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The team also seems weirdly fresh. It's such a difference from the Claude/Butch eras, that it's really weird to see. They play a much less demanding style that keeps them fresh and healthy. The recent injuries notwithstanding, those were more freak accidents than wear and tear.

I've been waiting for the other shoe to drop all season, but I'm finally convinced they are in peak shape to win it all.
 

Two Youks

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The team also seems weirdly fresh. It's such a difference from the Claude/Butch eras, that it's really weird to see. They play a much less demanding style that keeps them fresh and healthy. The recent injuries notwithstanding, those were more freak accidents than wear and tear.

I've been waiting for the other shoe to drop all season, but I'm finally convinced they are in peak shape to win it all.
It was really noticeable last night. The west coast swing featured four hard played games plus a ton of travel, as well as a personnel shakeup. I fully expected more of what we saw in Calgary - a team that was on fumes but still gutting it out. Instead, they got better as the game went on. Incredibly impressive, and it speaks not only to the new style the team is employing, but also their overall fitness, nutrition, etc. I've never seen a Bruins team this consistent.
 

BigMike

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Will they ease off, no.

They have a bunch of back to back games over the next 6 weeks. They will almost certainly try to convince Krecji and Bergeron to take some days off. They were dragging bad on the trip.

Sweeney even spoke to it today
 

lexrageorge

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Biggest concern is health. But there is no easy way to avoid injury other than giving key players selected nights off, esp on back-to-backs.

Not overly excited about the points record; the 3 point game is still a relatively modern invention and so not all that meaningful as an all time record. Still, it would be a nice addition to a Cup winning season.
 

Chainsaw318

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It was really noticeable last night. The west coast swing featured four hard played games plus a ton of travel, as well as a personnel shakeup. I fully expected more of what we saw in Calgary - a team that was on fumes but still gutting it out. Instead, they got better as the game went on. Incredibly impressive, and it speaks not only to the new style the team is employing, but also their overall fitness, nutrition, etc. I've never seen a Bruins team this consistent.
After period 1 on a Calgary, I expected them to lose. They looked so dead and could get the pick out of the zone.
Amazing that they won that game and that Ullmark gave them the opportunity.
 

Cotillion

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I especially expected and would not have faulted them for giving it up in the third after Calgary quickly scored to tie and take the lead late in the period. At that point, I was thinking "rough night, shame we wasted a huge effort by Ullmark, but they just look dead at the tail end of this road trip and that energy sapping game the night before on top of it"... but they just dug deep and found a way. It really is a special team, and I hope they get the Cup.
 

wiffleballhero

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Barring actual injuries I'd guess the load management will be as much about navigating the needs of all these back to backs and keeping all these players in the rotation as it is about thinking about the end of April or May. Maybe around the last week of the season they might really rest guys against Washington and Montreal (the final two).

Otherwise, play people who are not injured, be cautious about what injuries they have (which apparently they are, I mean, would Marchand have really sat out that Buffalo game if it mattered?) and rotate a fair amount (as we're seeing on D already). But none of that really means taking your foot off the gas, so to speak.
 

InstaFace

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is there any difference between "giving some semi-banged-up stars a few games off in the last few weeks to get them closer to 100%", and "taking your foot off the gas"? Like, are there any actions people are imagining "foot off the gas" entails other than resting some players? I would expect all the players to try to play the same way, as hard as they can, as long as they're not deactivated for the game.

If (as I suspect) the answer is "no, that's all we mean", then wouldn't we prefer that the team start the playoffs with healthy-as-possible stars, rather than a couple extra points in the standings?

A few teams have come close to the points record the last decade, and none have won the Cup. I don't see why we wouldn't give everyone rest who needs it, since playoff seeding is kinda sewn up.
 

Sausage in Section 17

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For comparison's sake.

Year Presidents' Trophy Playoff Result
2022 Florida Panthers Lost Quarterfinal (Tampa Bay)
2021 Colorado Avalanche Lost Quarterfinal (Vegas)
2020 Boston Bruins Lost Quarterfinal (Tampa Bay)
2019 Tampa Bay Lightning Lost Preliminary (Columbus)
2018 Nashville Predators Lost Quarterfinal (Winnipeg)
2017 Washington Capitals Lost Quarterfinal (Pittsburgh)
2016 Washington Capitals Lost Quarterfinal (Pittsburgh)
2015 New York Rangers Lost Semifinal (Tampa Bay)
2014 Boston Bruins Lost Quarterfinal (Montreal)
2013 Chicago Blackhawks Won Stanley Cup
2012 Vancouver Canucks Lost Preliminary (Los Angeles)
2011 Vancouver Canucks Lost Final (Boston)
2010 Washington Capitals Lost Preliminary (Montreal)
2009 San Jose Sharks Lost Preliminary (Anaheim)
2008 Detroit Red Wings Won Stanley Cup
2007 Buffalo Sabres Lost Semifinal (Ottawa)
2006 Detroit Red Wings Lost Preliminary (Edmonton)
2004 Detroit Red Wings Lost Quarterfinal (Calgary)
2003 Ottawa Senators Lost Semifinal (New Jersey)
2002 Detroit Red Wings Won Stanley Cup
2001 Colorado Avalanche Won Stanley Cup
2000 St. Louis Blues Lost Preliminary (San Jose)
1999 Dallas Stars Won Stanley Cup
1998 Dallas Stars Lost Semifinal (Detroit)
1997 Colorado Avalanche Lost Semifinal (Detroit)
1996 Detroit Red Wings Lost Semifinal (Colorado)
1995 Detroit Red Wings Lost Final (New Jersey)
1994 New York Rangers Won Stanley Cup
1993 Pittsburgh Penguins Lost Quarterfinal (New York)*
1992 New York Rangers Lost Quarterfinal (Pittsburgh)
1991 Chicago Blackhawks Lost Preliminary (Minnesota)^
1990 Boston Bruins Lost Final (Edmonton)
1989 Calgary Flames Won Stanley Cup
1988 Calgary Flames Lost Quarterfinal (Edmonton)
1987 Edmonton Oilers Won Stanley Cup
1986 Edmonton Oilers Lost Quarterfinal (Calgary)
 

kenneycb

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is there any difference between "giving some semi-banged-up stars a few games off in the last few weeks to get them closer to 100%", and "taking your foot off the gas"? Like, are there any actions people are imagining "foot off the gas" entails other than resting some players? I would expect all the players to try to play the same way, as hard as they can, as long as they're not deactivated for the game.

If (as I suspect) the answer is "no, that's all we mean", then wouldn't we prefer that the team start the playoffs with healthy-as-possible stars, rather than a couple extra points in the standings?

A few teams have come close to the points record the last decade, and none have won the Cup. I don't see why we wouldn't give everyone rest who needs it, since playoff seeding is kinda sewn up.
Devil’s in the details in the how. I trust Monty to not screw it up.

Your last point seems to be searching for a causation where it’s tenuous at best. The Lightning didn’t go out to Columbus because they went for the points record. They hit an absurdly hot goalie.

It’s also really hard to win the Stanley Cup. Much more so than other sports IMO. MLB is largely random and only a couple teams have a chance in the NBA. The NHL isn’t as random as the MLB but a hot goalie can create havoc in a short series.
 

Red Right Ankle

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Devil’s in the details in the how. I trust Monty to not screw it up.

Your last point seems to be searching for a causation where it’s tenuous at best. The Lightning didn’t go out to Columbus because they went for the points record. They hit an absurdly hot goalie.

It’s also really hard to win the Stanley Cup. Much more so than other sports IMO. MLB is largely random and only a couple teams have a chance in the NBA. The NHL isn’t as random as the MLB but a hot goalie can create havoc in a short series.
Yep, every year a bunch of teams that aren't going for the points record / didn't win the President's Trophy ALSO don't win the Cup.

The NHL playoffs are hard.