After Clinching A Spot, The Boston Bruins Hope To Fine-tune Their Game For The Playoffs

ARLINGTON, Va.: Kevin Shattenkirk arrived in Boston months after the Bruins misplaced within the first spherical of the playoffs because the Stanley Cup favorites following a record-setting season, after which he watched Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci skate off into retirement.

What he noticed floored him. The usual of successful {and professional} tradition he and his teammates had been attempting to construct throughout the nation in Anaheim was in place, even with Bergeron, Krejci and Zdeno Chara not round.

“It’s very refreshing to see that groundwork has been laid,” Shattenkirk mentioned.

However the Bruins hope the perfect is but to come back. With eight video games left within the common season earlier than they’ll avenge the disappointing defeat that got here after setting NHL information for probably the most wins and most factors, they’ve clinched a playoff spot and at the moment are centered on fine-tuning their play for when that problem comes subsequent and hope they’re higher ready this time round.

“With the adversity that we went by and the quantity of changeover that we had and the gamers that we misplaced, I believed we did an awesome job coming collectively and undertaking what we wanted to to get to the playoffs,” captain Brad Marchand mentioned Friday. “It’s a massive deal, however as soon as the playoffs begin, all of it begins once more and there’s a lot larger issues at stake.”

Internally, the expectation is the franchise’s first championship since 2011, however the standing of being the staff to beat isn’t there. Boston is 11-1 to win the Cup on FanDuel Sportsbook, the seventh-highest odds behind Florida, Colorado, Carolina, Edmonton, Dallas and the New York Rangers.

All that regardless of being simply three factors again of the Rangers for the perfect file within the league and the Presidents’ Trophy — not the one anybody needs to win, however the home-ice benefit all through the postseason that comes with it doesn’t harm.

Coach Jim Montgomery isn’t anticipating to relaxation Marchand, who’s 35, or different prime gamers as a result of he doesn’t assume they’re being taxed that a lot as is. Plus, there’s a function to ending robust earlier than the playoffs begin April 20.

“To be trustworthy, we knew we had been going to be within the playoffs for some time, in all probability since All-Star break,” Montgomery mentioned. “For us, it’s extra about battling for positioning proper now and stepping into the playoffs, most significantly, taking part in the precise means.”

There’s a sure means the Bruins have to play, a structured means, that Montgomery believes when that occurs, they’ll match up effectively with any opponent. That has wavered a bit with three losses prior to now 4 video games, although maybe hitting a tough patch might pay dividends when the strain rachets up within the playoffs.

“It’s about making ready the identical means every night time,” Marchand mentioned. “Come playoff time, you may’t simply flip a change. That you must be prepared, and there’s a number of groups which might be preventing for his or her lives proper now and taking part in very well and if you happen to don’t have that very same mindset, you will get caught off guard come playoff time. So, it’s about ensuring that every night time you come ready to play and also you don’t get complacent in any respect.”

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)