Posted by Gayle Simone, Sun Staff
With 20 games left in the regular season for the Bruins, can they still make the playoffs?
Going into Moday's game verus the Atlanta Thrashers, the Black and Gold were in 11th in the Eastern Conference with 64 points, because of the 3-2 loss the Bs stay idle; but since Montreal beat the Maple Leafs - the Bruins are seven points behind 8th place Carolina, which the Bs still have two games in hand on the 'Canes.
Out of their 20 games they have left - seven of them are against Northeast opponents; four of them against the Habs - who are just eight points in front of the Bs.
What do the Bruins need to do to stay in the playoff hunt? First they need to get Glen Murray back in the line-up (which he is slated to do against Philly on Thursday). Granted the Bs have won games without Muzz, but the power play has definitely suffered without the threat of Murray on the ice.
Secondly - goaltending, goaltending, goaltending.... It is a known fact that you have to have two quality net minders to get your team through the regular season - even Martin Brodeur can't play 82 regular season games. Nothing against Joey MacDonald, but I highly doubt he's the answer.
Thirdly, someone other than Marc Savard needs to pick up the consistency in the points category. Savvy leads the team with 82 points (21 goals, 61 assists). Patrice Bergeron is second on the team with 55 points - that's nearly 30 points less than Savvy. With Marco Sturm getting hot (seven goals in eight games) and playing on the same with Bergy again will jump start some more balanced offense from the club. Not to mention his four-year contract extension that all but erases the trade rumors.
And finally, with 20 games left in the season, the Bruins pretty much need to win at least four out of every six from now until April 7 when they wrap up the regular season against the Senators.
The East has been such a tight race all season long, anything can happen in the last full month of hockey. Seriously, stranger things have happened...
With all of that said... do the Bruins still have hope or is better to say... wait 'til next year?
I think it is wait 'till next year! To many teams to climb over and still not enough consistency from the team. Besides, they would make a quick exit anyway and give fans and management false hope. The owners need to go and get/do more to make this team competitive. As I watched last nights game, there were many empty seats. Are they as bad as the Celtics: No! But a loser is a loser and not making the playoffs puts them in that category unfortunately!
Posted by JW | February 27, 2007 8:08 AM
Posted on February 27, 2007 08:08
Losing to a team like Atlanta REALLY hurts them. If they would be to make the playoffs they cannot afford to lose home games to teams ahead of them as it amounts to a 4-point swing in the wrong direction.
If they could manage to get a 2nd goalie playing decently to give Thomas some rest I'd put their chances at about 30-70 to make the playoffs. Without that their chances are two: SLIM and NONE.
Posted by dboisver | February 27, 2007 2:06 PM
Posted on February 27, 2007 14:06