Time to assume the Bruins will play Tampa Bay in Round 1

[Gordoff]

I’m not scared of Tampa one shred

I wish that they had your knuckles on the bench (I've seen the pictures). Hopefully Maroon can supply that but as DKH said, Lucic screwed it all up. They could have trotted them or at least one of them out when things start getting rough.
Don't get me wrong, I think this team is starting to realize that hitting/toughness and attitude do matter but I think Maroon and Looch doing a tag team trolling Lightening or Panther players would be the balls.

 

[CDJ]

I’m fine with playing Tampa, that said the way they do the seeding is absolutely brain dead

 

[Clint Eastwood]

I was pretty stoked when we drew Florida last year. I thought we had them easy. My confidence went up even further after games 3 and 4.

So, we draw who we draw. Even if we get the WC2 team, I've learned not to view it as an easy win. There's no bad team in the postseason.

 

[Mr. Make-Believe]

Under a 1 through 8 format the matchups as of today would be

#1 Rangers vs. #8 Pittsburgh
#2 Bruins vs. #7 Islanders
#3 Carolina vs. #6 Tampa
#4 Florida vs. #5 Toronto

Tell me that doesn't look a little more correct

 

[Aussie Bruin]

The NHL playoffs are a brutal beast. The Stars just beat the Avs to strengthen their grip on top spot in the west, and their 'reward' for this is a fair chance of drawing Vegas in the first round. Who may be running out of gas, but if not, that's a tough contest. Or if it turns out to be the Kings or Preds in WC2, it doesn't get much easier. More than a few teams around who can do some real damage, none who can cruise through having a roster that's head and shoulders above the rest. That's as it should be in a cap and draft league.

So for the Bruins yeah Tampa would be a challenge. But that's what the postseason's about, and there's no guarantee that a surging Pens, for example, would be any easier. Take your opponent as they come, and hope that your team plays its best when it matters most. Then let the chips fall where they may.

I still go into this playoffs with low expectations. I think this Bruins team has shown it can beat anybody, at least in the east. I believe they can achieve something meaningful, which frankly in October seemed pretty unlikely. But equally aside from in net they have no inherent advantage over most of the other contenders, and there are stronger teams on paper. Whatever happens I just hope that they don't leave anything on the table through self-inflicted errors like they so clearly did last year. They take care of what they can control, and I'll be happy with that.

 

[DKH]

Lucic, Brazeau, Maroon would’ve been fun to see for a game or two. They’d get caved but that’d be about as old school of a 4th line as you could get.

I’m sure if Lucic there’s no Maroon but if this was 67-95 yes you have both

Maroon I saw early with Minnesota can play

If he’s healthy enough he will have an effect on Tampa

I believe Coyle & Tkachuk are friends and when Tkachuk kind of F’d with him he lost it worse then I’ve ever seen CC

It may be an individual thing but if I was playing against one of my buddies and they pulled an a hole move on me I would not let it go - I’d be pissed after the game

Tkachuk did not go all Coyle once he was pissed - Matt backed off

I really don’t get why teams don’t go all Vegas and basically become the hunters - they turned the tables and went after Bennett & obviously Tkachuk leaving him athletically dead

Tampa I would just play it straight up - finish checks and no retaliation because their PP is almost Gretzky era Oilers quality

I’m Monty ‘no retaliation’ over and over If they meet Tampa

Florida is really the only team I’d actually tell my players to hammer players over and over (Tkachuk Bennett Montour and that dirt bag Nick Cousins - Freddy has been super quiet since Jeannot tuned him up and I wonder if not feeling well - however, Freddy can beat or hold own against him and historically anyone fighting does not usually show aggression rest of game - and Cousins is a chump

 

[DKH]

The NHL playoffs are a brutal beast. The Stars just beat the Avs to strengthen their grip on top spot in the west, and their 'reward' for this is a fair chance of drawing Vegas in the first round. Who may be running out of gas, but if not, that's a tough contest. Or if it turns out to be the Kings or Preds in WC2, it doesn't get much easier. More than a few teams around who can do some real damage, none who can cruise through having a roster that's head and shoulders above the rest. That's as it should be in a cap and draft league.

So for the Bruins yeah Tampa would be a challenge. But that's what the postseason's about, and there's no guarantee that a surging Pens, for example, would be any easier. Take your opponent as they come, and hope that your team plays its best when it matters most. Then let the chips fall where they may.

I still go into this playoffs with low expectations. I think this Bruins team has shown it can beat anybody, at least in the east. I believe they can achieve something meaningful, which frankly in October seemed pretty unlikely. But equally aside from in net they have no inherent advantage over most of the other contenders, and there are stronger teams on paper. Whatever happens I just hope that they don't leave anything on the table through self-inflicted errors like they so clearly did last year. They take care of what they can control, and I'll be happy with that.

Yup this is exactly where I sit

I have no idea where it’s going to go but that’s the beauty of a match with Tampa

Fascinating

I think as a coach I could shut down the Bruins but Tampa I would only preach control & discipline and make good decisions not risky

Beating Tampa is the Bruins mindset

Beating Boston is going after McAvoy & Pastrnak

It’s like Bourque & Neely all over again where two players are so vital

 

[UncleRico]

Makes zero difference to me who they play first round. If the opponent is good enough we will have to face them 2nd round anyways if we advance.

 

[Bruinswillwin77]

Feels like they've been playing well the last couple weeks but they were 14-1-0 in their final 15 games of the regular season last year. I suppose their situation was different injury speaking though.

 

[Guelph Bruin]

I'm good with Tampa, two experienced teams battling it out will be an entertaining series, I'm here to be entertained and as DKH mentioned..win that series and it could set us up for a good run. Seeding might not be fair but you have to put in the work regardless ... as most playoff series go, it'll come down to goaltending and special teams. Slight advantage Tampa.

 

[Hookslide]

I wish that they had your knuckles on the bench (I've seen the pictures). Hopefully Maroon can supply that but as DKH said, Lucic screwed it all up. They could have trotted them or at least one of them out when things start getting rough.
Don't get me wrong, I think this team is starting to realize that hitting/toughness and attitude do matter but I think Maroon and Looch doing a tag team trolling Lightening or Panther players would be the balls.

It would have been fun........

 

[KnightofBoston]

Good, let them come.

We have a demon to slay

 

[DarrenBanks56]

I mean, as long as we stick to 5 on 5 and stay out of the box, I think we beat Tampa pretty easily.

 

[mikelvl]

Once again this year, the B's land the worst possible opponent. Kucherov, Stamkos, Point, Hedman, Paul, Vasi etc., going to be a tall task. I think a lot of eyes will be on Monty this time around. If he can't handle the pressure again this year.....

I just don't want to hear Felger and Mazz all off season saying they are a bunch of chokers. Because you know that they are salivating for that.

 

[Bruinswillwin77]

Once again this year, the B's land the worst possible opponent. Kucherov, Stamkos, Point, Hedman, Paul, Vasi etc., going to be a tall task. I think a lot of eyes will be on Monty this time around. If he can't handle the pressure again this year.....

I just don't want to hear Felger and Mazz all off season saying they are a bunch of chokers. Because you know that they are salivating for that.

Nah they'll have the nfl draft to pick apart all summer plus trolly mctroll felger is a Bruins fan.

 

[Number8]

I’m not scared of Tampa one shred

Exactly. f*** Tampa and the horse they rode in on.

 

[caz16]

Exactly. f*** Tampa and the horse they rode in on.

More like an ass they rode in on

 

[BTO]

2013 east semis, Torey Krug absolutely lit them up in an easy five game series

Yeah that was Krug’s NHL debut too I believe. I remember he skated crossing-over backwards/sideways along the offensive blue line and the entire Garden crowed gasped lol.

 

[rfournier103]

Under a 1 through 8 format the matchups as of today would be

#1 Rangers vs. #8 Pittsburgh
#2 Bruins vs. #7 Islanders
#3 Carolina vs. #6 Tampa
#4 Florida vs. #5 Toronto

Those would be some great matchups.

 

[goldnblack]

I like 2 things about this

1) You KNOW the Bruins aren't taking them lightly
2) You KNOW we aren't either

We had big a series win vs these guys in 2011 and we know what happened there. Let's do it again...

 

[SwayHeyKid]

I’m not scared of Tampa one shred

Have to agree. Toronto handled them pretty easily last season, Bruins in 6 tops

 

[JCRO]

Im back and forth on this one especially after viewing other's comments.

On one side- This is quite literally the worst team they could've landed, IMO, AGAIN. A team that plays heavy and knows how to win. Again, its not a true wildcard team- just a strong division (F this playoff format. Ill never be a fan of it). The Bs also havent beaten them since the 2011 run to the cup.

On the other side- With all the above being said, and as DKH said above, this could be a good set up for a strong playoff run if, as KoB said above, you can slay your demon. It would definitely be a feel-good series win that should resonate with many in this group that have been there for the loses to this team.

At the end of the day, Im ready for some ****ing playoff hockey. Lets go boys.

 

[4ORRBRUIN]

The only thing Im glad to not have to deal with is the Leaf suck ass hype machine in round one

If the Bruins play Tampa and can stay out of the box and play more 5 on 5 I like our chances.

If Power plays end up upside down in Tampa's favor I believe we will be an easy out.

That power play is just that good

 

[RustyBruins72]

I remember as a kid in perfect conditions we could tune into WSBK here in Ontario on UHF. So I always Hoped for perfect weather on game nights.

Sportsnet uses the NESN feed in Canada a lot. There has been a few times this season it was so bad, they got frustrated and switched to the opponent feed.

Kevin Bieksa: Canucks wanted Tampa Bay in 2011 Stanley Cup Final

The former Vancouver Canucks defenceman has admitted something that everyone else felt about the 2011 Stanley Cup Final. Read more.

theprovince.com

Enjoyed this article until the conspiracy stuff started.

 

[Absurdity]

If it's Bruins and the Lightning in round one, I think the winner of that series will go on to the ECF.