There's something about this game that feels off, as if the two teams should not play each other. Is there actually any reason for them to play, at least hard and for the win? The risk would seem to outweigh the reward.
It's doubtful either team can catch their division leader, the Lightning and Predators respectively, at least not without some help or luck. That being said the Bruins have a far better chance than the Jets do based on being 2 points behind and having games in hand. The only advantage to chasing either team ahead with full effort is to get home ice advantage but it may be too late.
The reason I present this argument is that the Jets are getting healthy and are trying to be smart with second in the Central Division all but assured. With Toby Enstrom being shut down until the post season, Jacob Trouba passing the concussion protocol but being held out and the other litany of minor injuries in the team is this game worth any more damage?
It's a funny thing how the final 7-10 games of the regular season work. Those teams with a chance to make a run and with injuries who have clinched a spot don't need to take risks but others do. The Jets and Bruins fall into the first category and they do battle tonight.
The Bruins present a good challenge for the Jets after a testy game vs the Predators. They are fearless in approach, strong, tough and difficult to play against it's exactly the type of opposition a team with relatively little playoff experience in its roster should welcome before the playoffs start. If that's the case for Jets and Paul Maurice, an opponent to test against, how do the teams match up?
CF%
Bruins #2 at 53.73% Jets #6 at 51.77%
SCF%
Bruins #1 at 55.20% Jets #6 at 52.98%
High Danger CF%
Bruins #5 at 53.60% Jets #6 at 52.57%
Now consider some visual data between the two teams.
What can been seen is these are two teams that are similar and that they have had some similar issues throughout the season, injury trouble to key players. It might make sense that this game becomes more of a battle simply because of their similar strengths and it those strengths may force them to battle too.
It's not that they need to go at each other with hammer and tongs but their make up seems to suggest they will even if that is in neither team's best interest.
Enjoy the game.