Could this be the year the Bruins finally miss the playoffs?

[mobilus]

Florida was the worst matchup possible for them in the east. Late in the year there was a game against Pittsburgh where they came back late in the third to tie and win in OT, and if they threw that game the Penguins make the playoffs instead of Florida.

But primarily it was because Ullmark was badly injured and Monty kept him in there to get blown out. Bergeron also insisted on playing a meaningless game 82 in Montreal and ruptured a disc in his back. And the whole team came down with the flu before game 1. Just a perfect storm of everything that could go wrong going wrong.

Huh. When the Leafs blow a series it's just because they sucked.

 

[Bjornar Moxnes]

A lot of fans don't want to admit that luck plays a massive role in who wins the cup unfortunately

eaxctly. hockey isnt chess there is luck involved.

 

[Ratsreign]

Ullmark put up a season that wouldn't have looked out of place on Prime Hasek's resume.

They were never that much better than the Panthers.

Watching their regular season matchups that season pointed to a close series.

 

[BB79]

That's the cruelty of sport. You can lose in round 1 and could have been so much as a shot away from a Stanley Cup and you'd never know.

It just reinforces the fact that the regular season really doesn't mean jack shit, so as long as you get into the playoffs when it's over. There's a reason the playoffs are referred to as the second season. Low seeds can go all the way to the Final, too. But on the contrary, they seldom win it all- 91 North Stars, 99 Sabres, 06 Oilers are examples.

So don't be top dog or one of the bottom seeds and you're good

 

[BKarchitect]

I may be alone here and no, I don’t think Sacco is a great head coach or anything - I mean things appear dire right now…but o wouldn’t write them off yet.

Montgomery is a good coach but is the kind of guy with a bit of an expiration date, IMO.

There’s no way their star at each level - Pastrnak, McAvoy and Swayman - are going to continue to be as mediocre as they’ve been all year. Pasta, Marchand, Zacha and Lindholm are all shooting in the single digit percents. There is no way that is going to continue. Most of the guys who are underperforming would still be welcome on a boatload of other contenders (Coyle, Carlo, Frederic, etc).

I think there are underperforming guys and maybe the team leans a bit too much into having to be the “balanced, gritty, two-way” style without enough offensive fulcrums outside Pasta. But I don’t see a lot of actual deadwood or bad players. I think outside of some of the new depth guys, the locker room got a bit stale.

I think there is still a perfectly good team here. Definitely a playoff team. I think a change of voice in the locker room is a logical place to start. IMO it’s way to early to write the Bruins out of the playoffs.

 

[HockeyVirus]

Shutout again tonight. They are definitely in trouble right now.

 

[PaulD]

Watching their regular season matchups that season pointed to a close series.

January on Panther were second best team in the league I believe.
Beat Bruins in 7 games OT. Smoked the leafs in 5. Swept the Canes. Lost to Knights. Won the cup the next season.
That's 7 of 8 rounds.

 

[PaulD]

I may be alone here and no, I don’t think Sacco is a great head coach or anything - I mean things appear dire right now…but o wouldn’t write them off yet.

Montgomery is a good coach but is the kind of guy with a bit of an expiration date, IMO.

There’s no way their star at each level - Pastrnak, McAvoy and Swayman - are going to continue to be as mediocre as they’ve been all year. Pasta, Marchand, Zacha and Lindholm are all shooting in the single digit percents. There is no way that is going to continue. Most of the guys who are underperforming would still be welcome on a boatload of other contenders (Coyle, Carlo, Frederic, etc).

I think there are underperforming guys and maybe the team leans a bit too much into having to be the “balanced, gritty, two-way” style without enough offensive fulcrums outside Pasta. But I don’t see a lot of actual deadwood or bad players. I think outside of some of the new depth guys, the locker room got a bit stale.

I think there is still a perfectly good team here. Definitely a playoff team. I think a change of voice in the locker room is a logical place to start. IMO it’s way to early to write the Bruins out of the playoffs.

March will.get his game and fitness going smoothly again. Pasta will start scoring.
But Mac has been brutal and stupid for much longer than this season. Panthers broke him in play offs 2023. We've seen his plummet since then.

 

[scoopscj]

I think they make it. Watched them lose to the Canucks but dominate. I think they can outlast the Senators, Islanders, and possibly the Sabres for a spot in the playoffs. Too much talent there to miss.

 

[Regal]

Shutout again tonight. They are definitely in trouble right now.

Another loss hurts but Lankinen stole the game. They win most of the time playing like that

 

[WetcoastOrca]

Outside of the top 3 teams it’s still a weak division. I could see them right on the bubble.

 

[LeafalCrusader]

Next 6 games they play

NYI
Pittsburgh
Montreal
Detroit
Chicago
Philly

Pretty favorable schedule. Think they go on a run and get back on track. But we'll see.

 

[NVious]

It's so Bruover