B’s-Lightning playoff preview?
Bruins look to close out top spot in East
The Bruins’ upcoming contests with the Lightning this week are big in terms of getting separation in the standings, but that aside, it’s a good opportunity to see how they match up with a likely playoff opponent — and how they fare against one of the best teams in the NHL.
“Head-to-head matchups this time of year have the ability to push a team down or bring a team up,” said defenseman Torey Krug. “It’s an opportunity for us and it will start (Tuesday) and see where it goes from there.”
Over the past two seasons, the Bruins and Lightning have been two of — if not the — best teams in the NHL. They enter tonight’s tilt in Tampa Bay as the two top point-getting teams in the Eastern Conference, with the Bruins leading at 94 and the Lightning following with 87.
There was a stretch when the Lightning got within a point of the Bruins, who built a massive early season lead, but faltered with four losses in a row before bouncing back on Saturday.
The Lightning aren’t the same team that won the President’s Trophy a season ago only to get swept away by the Blue Jackets in a first round stunner. They’ve made moves, adding guys at the trade deadline like Blake Coleman from the Devils and Pat Maroon from the
Blues as a free agent in the offseason.
It sure feels like they’ve been gearing up to be a tougher — physically and, perhaps most importantly, mentally — team for the stretch run and into the playoffs.
The first step is proving themselves against the defending Eastern Conference champions in the next week as they try to get into a better position in the playoff race.
The Bruins know what they’re up against.
“(Barclay) Goodrow’s a big body, obviously Maroon is as well,” said Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy. ” … I think that’s what they want eventually anyway, whether it’s 6-foot-2 and 30 pounds heavier, they want competitive on the puck. They do push the pace and they have their speed. … They’ve added a couple bigger pieces. That could be the (Columbus effect) from last year.”
The Bruins do have a chance to bury the Lightning,
but it might be even more important to get a feel for what type of playoff matchup the teams might offer, should they get to that point.
The Bruins and Lightning have created a good rivalry, truly ramping up when Tampa Bay eliminated the B’s in the second round two seasons ago. Both teams have changed since then, with the Bruins making a Stanley Cup Finals appearance and the Lightning going through one of the most disappointing season endings in sports this millennium.
No matter the results, tonight and Saturday night will teach us a lot about the Bruins — and the Lightning.
“It’s always a fun one for us. … (The Lightning) have been so good for so long and they are on our heels, a potential team that you face down the road,” said Krug. “Exciting matchup. I think both teams are looking forward to it, should have a playoff-type feel to it.”