Predict the Atlantic Standings

[1point21Gigawatts]

Bruins have won game consistently major players out.

Yes, anyone can get injured , not exactly a reason to try and correct a prediction though.

End of November snap shot -
Wings have a shot a Wildcard. Sabres slim chance.
Florida , Ottawa , Habs are not in the first round this season.

What boston is doing is really impressive. I can't help but think that some of their success is due to the team playing their hearts out for Bergeron. I can't seem them being as cohesive once he fully retires. Then again, if he is the captain i think he is then maybe he'll have a lasting impact on that lockerroom, even in his absence.

 

[Auston Marlander]

I try to focus on the roster / prospects / farm system ... cap space. Buffalo is well positioned.

Do you believe this is the best Sabers team ever. Because that's what would be needed to pass the Red Wings, 114 point pace.

 

[wintersej]

What boston is doing is really impressive. I can't help but think that some of their success is due to the team playing their hearts out for Bergeron. I can't seem them being as cohesive once he fully retires. Then again, if he is the captain i think he is then maybe he'll have a lasting impact on that lockerroom, even in his absence.

The culture he and Chara have built is very strong. It survived Chara leaving. Can McAvoy and Marchand (the leading contenders for the next C) continue it on? I hope we don’t have to know until Bergeron finishes a 20th season.

 

[Hockey 4 Life]

As a Bruins fan, at this point in the season I still think they cool down enough to have the Leafs eventually pass them in the Atlantic standings. Through all the drama in Leafland over the last month they're still 14-5-5, and have done so without Matthews exploding offensively yet. And if Murray manages to stay healthy (both mentally and physically), that will only reinforce my opinion.

I hope I'm wrong, of course.

Your insight into the Leafs play is really impressive. My dad's a die hard Bruins fan so unlike some I really like the Bruins and respect the culture and success the Bruins have had and continue to have. I think with the Veteren leadership they have on that Bruins team the only thing that slows them down is injuries. The Bruins look real good this year.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Buffalo has played 22 of 82 games or 22%.

Better check your Math.
22% would be 100 games

 

[PaulD]

What boston is doing is really impressive. I can't help but think that some of their success is due to the team playing their hearts out for Bergeron. I can't seem them being as cohesive once he fully retires. Then again, if he is the captain i think he is then maybe he'll have a lasting impact on that lockerroom, even in his absence.

Bergevin is well respected and they played their heart out for him last season too when they thought it may be his last.

But a perfect storm of positives has lead to them being seemingly unstoppable

-Lindholm playing like Norris candidate. (Best deadline deal of last season) Puts all the D in proper spots. Nobody playing up in the line anymore.
-Hall is loving it in Boston and playing great.
-Marchand says "personally is has not felt this good physically since 2015". Hip surgery a raging success.
-Krejci back and playing great.
-Ullmark has never looked this good game in game out.
-Foligno looks like he turned the clock back five years and his finally healthy - making the third/fourth line one of the best in the league.
-Zacha for Haula was an upgrade.
-Clifftons surprise - playing great
- New coach Montgomery was a necessary change - DeBrusks stellar play a result of that.


Add all that up and an already good 100 point team is a whole lot better.

all that without even mentioning how good Bergeron and Pastas game is this season. Yikes!

 

[Blowfish]

Do you believe this is the best Sabers team ever. Because that's what would be needed to pass the Red Wings, 114 point pace.

What's you talking about Willis?

 

[Auston Marlander]

What's you talking about Willis?

You said you think they can make playoffs. That's what it would take to make playoffs.

 

[b in vancouver]

I think the next month is going to decide the Atlantic.

Boston's Schedule for the most part is brutal.

In the next 5 games alone they have Colorado twice, Vegas twice and Arizona.

Yes Arizona is in that clump of games but Colorado and Vegas twice each is brutal and then you have the NYI as the 6th game that's just the start.

You look at Toronto next 7.

You got SJ, TB, Dallas,LA, Calgary, NYR, Washington.

Tampa aside that's not the same and December as a whole is like that for both teams.

I think December is a BIG month in deciding the Atlantic

Will be interesting. Bruins tough stretch started 4 games ago though with Tampa, Florida, Carolina, Tampa and they've done alright. Not the worst time for them to continue this stretch of tough teams.
Leaf's ability to pick up OT points and beating Boston at home has kept them in the hunt but Toronto has dropped 15 points this season compared to Boston's 6.

Not insurmountable by any stretch but, for example, Boston would have to drop 5 straight games in regulation while Toronto won their next 3 in a row for The Leafs to get ahead of them with the same number of games played. It's tough at times with 3 point games to catch teams the same way it's been tough for Boston to have stretched out a bigger lead.

 

[TheImpatientPanther]

Lol....I,am sure you guys will...Funny thing is though I can admit when Iam wrong ,will both you and the other homer Barzeel do the same...I know the latter wont as he runs his mouth then hides when proven wrong

Lol...

To produce offense from defense does take the forwards being able to make plays,does it not???...This season our top 9 is better and deeper,which should have the team produce much better from the defense no??

Lol bookmark my stuff and call me out later.
Yes I'm saying Hamonic, Zub, Zaitsev and Brannstrom are not going to be putting up 30-40pts each and definitely think you're overrating your young core who may have ups and downs.

 

[wintersej]

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I don’t know if you want to get this argument going again and have everyone start making fun of the two most disappointing teams in the NHL arguing over who has underperformed more.

 

[VivaLasVegas]

Merely wondering when the Sens are finally going to start that epic run that will take them into the playoffs that *some* of their fans were talking about back in December.

Otherwise, looks like a brutal fight for that last wildcard is materializing, with about a half-dozen teams having a legitimate chance at it.

 

[danpantz]

This is a beautiful thread

 

[Unbiased Fan]

So many people slept on Boston wow

 

[BostonBruins11]

Next to no threads on the Bruins this seasons except a couple randoms.... so many posters trying to save face. I knew the hate for Boston was strong on this forum but not to this degree lol. Seems like everyone's avoiding talking about the Bruins and their players like it's the plague.

 

[Beezeral]

I don’t know if you want to get this argument going again and have everyone start making fun of the two most disappointing teams in the NHL arguing over when has underperformed more.

You aren’t wrong. But even with the panthers being massively disappointing, the senators still can’t find their way ahead of them in the standings.

 

[wintersej]

Next to no threads on the Bruins this seasons except a couple randoms.... so many posters trying to save face. I knew the hate for Boston was strong on this forum but not to this degree lol. Seems like everyone's avoiding talking about the Bruins and their players like it's the plague.

I don’t think folks were wrong to think the Bruins were gonna be a bubble team that would be dangerous if they got in. They had a lot of question marks. It’s just that everyone of their question marks worked out…and they got some unexpected surprises like Frederic making a leap, Ullmark making a leap and Lindholm more than returning to peak form.

 

[BlueBaron]

Since we are singing the praises of the evil Bruins I don't think their coach is getting enough credit.

Not only did they ignore injuries to two of their most important players but they have improved their over all play despite being an older team.

As a good Leaf fan I despise the Bruins but it's hard not to respect them. They look unbeatable this year. Here's hoping it's the end of an era.

 

[Blowfish]

Do you believe this is the best Sabers team ever. Because that's what would be needed to pass the Red Wings, 114 point pace.

 

[Blowfish]

Since we are singing the praises of the evil Bruins I don't think their coach is getting enough credit.

Not only did they ignore injuries to two of their most important players but they have improved their over all play despite being an older team.

As a good Leaf fan I despise the Bruins but it's hard not to respect them. They look unbeatable this year. Here's hoping it's the end of an era.

Boston's average age is 29 and Toronto 28...

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Boston's average age is 29 and Toronto 28...

Boston is the 5th oldest team in the league and Toronto the 14th. The age of the cores is more relevant to longeivity anyways. Regardless there is no point trying to predict when the end will be for this Bruins core...I am sure it will happen eventually but who the f*** knows when.

 

[Nikolajs Sillers]

Raise your hand if you said that Boston would be the best team in the NHL? Not me.

 

[Auston Marlander]

 

[wintersej]

Boston is the 5th oldest team in the league and Toronto the 14th. The age of the cores is more relevant to longeivity anyways. Regardless there is no point trying to predict when the end will be for this Bruins core...I am sure it will happen eventually but who the f*** knows when.

Under 30 cores:

Forwards: Matthews, Marner, Nylander vs Pastrnak, DeBrusk, Zacha

Pasta cancels out one of Matthews/Marner but obviously Bruins are short a big stud up front to push Zacha's name off this list as he is only there because Boston is short on names. Bruins are just deadly old up the middle. Its a problem.

Defense: Rielly, Lily, Sandin vs McAvoy, Lindholm, Carlo

Only Colorado can compete with Boston's D core. McAvoy and Lindholm are both upper half #1D and Carlo has re-established himself as one of the premier shutdown guys in the game. Rielly is flawed and miscast as a #1, Lily and Sandin are both young guys with potential be be good top 4 guys, but are analogous, at best, to DeBrusk and Zacha on the Bruins forward core.

Goaltending: Murray, Samsonov vs Ullmark, Swayman

Obviously, goalies are voodoo, but I think there are a higher percentage of flat earthers than folks that wouldn't take the Bruins tandem long term over Toronto.

Boston's under 30 forward core is better than Toronto's under 30 D core. And Boston under 30 D core is at least comparable to Toronto's under 30 forward core. Both are clearly elite. Boston and Toronto have had very different luck with goaltending over the past couple decades, and while Matt Murray has played pretty well, he has been worse than Boston's backup goalie.

But, not gonna lie, finding an elite #1 center without tanking out is hard and the Bruins will have to find one to keep pace with Toronto.

But, you could also understand why Boston would be an attractive place for a UFA to place next to Pasta with a good D group and goaltending in place. Grabbing a good #1C from the trade or UFA market is Boston's Obi Wan Kenobi... our only hope.

For Toronto, it is amazing that the young forwards have really bought into playing with structure and team defense. Amazing. This Toronto team is DIFFERENT than the previous versions of Toronto. They are scary. But... the personnel on the blue line is still really short that guy at the top that pushes everyone down into the correct roles.

So I dunno. In the long run Bruins will need a #1C. And Toronto needs a #1D already. Its probably easier to luck into a #1D in the draft than a #1C and its probably easier to have D by committee. But, I also don't think its really as cut and dry which if these teams has the better future as Toronto fans think.

 

[BlueBaron]

Boston's average age is 29 and Toronto 28...

Yes but it's hard to ignore their C which drives team. Lol. Can't even compliment the Bruins without someone looking for a win.