There is still over half of the season left to play, but if the Bruins can stay healthy, they look primed to make it back into the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
They rank among the better half of the league in all of the big four categories except goals per game.
Scoring depth has been a problem at times, but the Bruins have enough stars amid their first two lines to get them to the postseason.
Getting back to the postseason won’t be easy however, as claiming one of the three Atlantic Division playoff spots appears to be their only route in.
The wild card race is crowded by a stacked Metro Division that will in all likely hood send five teams to the playoffs.
Washington, New Jersey, and Columbus hold the three divisional spots while the two New York teams are right behind them holding both Eastern conference wild card spots.
The Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers are the first two teams outside of the wild card and have histories of getting hot come March and April.
These seven teams are all racking up points and are going to make it near impossible for an Atlantic team to steal a wild card spot.
The Bruins do however have a legit shot at reaching the Stanley Cup Playoffs by finishing in the top three of the Atlantic Division.
The Tampa Bay Lightning look like the best team in the NHL right now and barring a major collapse, will likely win the Atlantic Division with ease.
Boston sits in third in the division, but they could push the second place Toronto Maple Leafs if they get hot at the right time.
The Bruins also can’t overlook the Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Canadiens. The Red Wings have been much better than anyone expected and while Montreal has been up and down thus far, they always seem to turn it on at the right time.
The Bruins know they can make a run, but they’re going to have to beat out some familiar faces and bitter rivals.
