With our series of Bruins grades finally completed it’s time to look to the future and for the Bruins, that means the 2018-2019 regular season.
The 2018-2019 NHL schedule has been released and while we don’t know their nationally broadcast games yet, there are still a couple games on the calendar that caught our eye.
Oct. 3, 2018 @ Washington Capitals
The Bruins open the regular season on the road against Alexander Ovechkin and the 2018 Stanley Cup Champion Washington Capitals.
Boston will get a serious test right out of the gate so they will have to be ready to go if they want to hang with the defending champions in what will likely be a nationally broadcasted affair.
Oct. 8, 2018 vs Ottawa Senators
The Bruins’ first home game at TD Garden will be their third game of the season. They will meet the Ottawa Senators who are coming off a terrible 2017-2018 campaign.
The black and gold faithful will be eager to see what this young team can do in person after a breakthrough season a year ago.
Oct. 17-23, 2018 @ Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks, and Ottawa Senators
The team’s first road trip of the year will be a four-game tour through Canada. They will face three western conference teams before returning east to face the Ottawa Senators once again.
Boston was one of the league’s best road teams last season and it will be interesting to see if they can keep that up.
Oct 27, 2018 vs Montreal Canadiens
The arch-rivals Bruins and Canadiens meet for the first time in 2018-2019 at the end of October.
Last season, the Canadiens suffered a nosedive season while the Bruins soared. It doesn’t matter what their records are, however, as any showdown between these two teams is bound to be a bloodbath.
Nov. 10, 2018 vs Toronto Maple Leafs
This will mark the first match between the Leafs and Bruins since their thrilling Game 7 in the first round of the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Maple Leafs added John Tavares in the offseason and are bound to be looking for revenge after yet another first round exit.
Nov. 11, 2018 vs Las Vegas Golden Knights
The Bruins will face off against the defending Western Conference Champion Las Vegas Golden Knights in mid-November.
Vegas took everyone by surprise in its inaugural season, but no one will be sleeping on them in their sophomore campaign.
Nov. 23, 2018 vs Pittsburgh Penguins
They may not be the defending Stanley Cup Champions anymore, but the Pittsburgh Penguins are still one of the most dangerous teams in the NHL.
As long as the Penguins have their core of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Phil Kessel then their championship window will be open.
Dec. 6, 2018 @ Tampa Bay Lightning
Boston was soundly defeated by the Lightning in five games during the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs and the black and gold are likely itching to get back at them.
The Lightning will have another championship caliber squad, so the race for the Atlantic division will once again be an all-out war.
Dec. 29, 2018 @ Buffalo Sabres
This game doesn’t mean a whole lot—as of now—but this marks the team’s final game of 2018.
Jan. 1, 2019 @ Chicago Blackhawks
The Bruins first game of 2019 will actually be on the first day of the year. The team will travel to face the Chicago Blackhawks on New Year’s Day.
This game is part of the 2019 Winter Classic and thus will be played at Notre Dame stadium in Indiana.
Jan. 19, 2018 vs New York Rangers
This showdown with the New York Rangers marks the team’s final game before the all-star break.
Jan. 29, 2018 vs Winnipeg Jets
Upon returning from the all-star break, the Bruins will face off against the Winnipeg Jets.
Feb. 15-23, 2019 @ Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks, San Jose Sharks, Las Vegas Golden Knights, St Louis Blues
The Bruins will embark upon a five-game west coast road trip in the middle of February.
They will face the three California teams before traveling to Las Vegas to play against the Golden Knights. They conclude the road trip in St. Louis.
April 6, 2018 vs Tampa Bay Lightning
The team closes the 2018-2019 regular season against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Who knows, maybe this game will decide the division.
