Boston Bruins Beast of East?

Last year the Boston Bruins were two minutes away from forcing a 7th and deciding game in their Stanley Cup Final series with the Chicago Blackhawks but two late Blackhawk goals in the final moments stunned the home crowd and their Bruins at the TD Garden as the Hawks hoisted the Stanley Cup and avoided the coin flip scenario of a 7th game. The Boston Bruins have played with vengeance down the stretch of the NHL regular season however and are looking primed for a repeat run at the Eastern Conference championship and another shot at the Stanley Cup Final. With G Tuukka Rask, D Zdeno Chara, and balanced scoring from C David Krejci, RW Jerome Iginla, LW Milan Lucic, C Patrice Bergeron, C LW Brad Marchand, and RW Reilly Smith the Bruins, their fans, and gamblers have every legitimate reason for belief in a run for Lord Stanley’s Cup.

Handicapper’s Notebook

The Boston Bruins were a virtual ATM machine with the NHL lines at home with a mark of 15-5 at TD Garden in their last 20 home games as just 6 out of their last 20 home games went over the total. The Boston Bruins have been a solid road team with 12 payouts in their last 20 road tilts with just 4 out of their last 20 away games going under the total. Boston has had an even 10-10 split in April road games as just 7 out of their last 20 April road games went under the total. The Bruins have struggled at home in April with an even 10-10 split at TD Garden with just 6 out of those last 20 April home games going over the total.

Prognosis

The Bruins flashed powerful metrics in ranking 3rd in the NHL for goal scoring and 2nd for goals against. As the season ended there was little doubt that they were the class of the East. G Tuukka Rask is the key as he had a regular season save percentage of .930 which is elite level goaltending that can make up for nights when offense is lacking. Boston is the team to beat in the East!