Although they have looked pretty much unstoppable the entire season, and they are undoubtedly the best team in the league, it’s not going to happen. The Boston Bruins will not win the Stanley Cup.
Being a huge Rangers fan, there’s definitely some bias here, but I’m going to put it aside. Creds to the Bruins for basically cruising through the regular season. Linus Ullmark leads all goalies in the league in wins, save percentage, and GAA. He also netted the first goalie goal in 3 years last week, which further cements him into earning the Vezina trophy this year. Pastranak is playing out of his mind, going no more than 1 game without scoring a point all season. Then you have Bergeron, Marchand, and all of these other star supporting characters who are also playing some of their best hockey. The Bruins look unstoppable, but that is the very reason there are worries.
For the Bruins, this time of the season is the scariest. Right before playoffs would be the worst time to start dropping games and playing poorly. Yes, it’s crazy enough that the Bruins have been as good as they are, but it means nothing to them if they’re not holding up the cup at the end of it all.
Teams in the NHL use the regular season to prepare for what really matters: the playoffs. Playoff hockey is a completely different nature than regular season, and anything can happen. My main worry for the Bruins is that they really haven’t faced much adversity at all this season. I mean they’ve fucking lost 8 games in regulation out of the 60 they have played thus far. That’s insane. However, that’s also the concern. The Bruins have had the easiest regular season ever, so when they get to a tough spot in the playoffs, they won’t be ready or used to the adversity and intensity, and it will show.
Finishing 1st place in the NHL, let alone dominating first place the entire season, is a known curse. I mean look at the Lightning in 2019. They were clearly the best team in the league throughout the whole regular season, finishing with 62 wins which tied the NHL record. Playoffs then kicked off and Tampa Bay was stunned and routed by the Blue Jackets in the first round. The Lightning had a season much like the Bruins. They would step on the ice and blow out opponents, literally coasting through the regular season. They clinched a playoff spot in March, while the Blue Jackets had to win 7 of their last 8 games to even make the playoffs.
What was the difference? The Blue Jackets were used to being gritty and dealing with adversity all season. The Lightning, on the other hand, had really never been in a spot like that all year. This is almost an identical situation to the Bruins right now, and you can’t tell me that “this Bruins team is different” or “there’s no way they lose a series”, because you’re just a Boston fan who doesn’t know shit.
Everyone is going to be gunning for the number 1 team. When you play the best, there’s a heightened sense of urgency to perform your best. And with a team that has faced little to no adversity this season, I just don’t think the Bruins are ready, and they will be overwhelmed when they are in a close series with a much grittier team. The Bruins will not win the Stanley cup.
