I mentioned the open-to-the-public CBJ practice/simulated game yesterday. Attendance numbers show just how excited this city is to be in 2nd Round with 5,200 fans showing up. This was for practice, in the middle of the day on a weekday.
Yesterday I took a brief view of TOR if they happen to be the CBJs 2nd round match up. Apparently, too brief as I failed to notice the scoring they have up and down their line-up. This is not a one-line team as they have seven 20+ goal scorers in their lineup. While they remind me of Tampa when I watch them skate, it is evident that they are not the top-heavy scoring team I though they were, there is scoring depth there.
If it is…
Boston Bruins
2nd in the Atlantic Division (3rd overall in the NHL) with 109 points (49-24-9)
259 goals for, 215 goals against (+44)
Leading Scorers:
1. Marchand 100 points (36 goals, 64 assists)
2. Pastrnak 81 points (38 goals, 43 assists)
3. Bergeron 79 points (32 goals, 47 assists)
4. Krejici 73 points (20 goals, 53 assists)
5. Krug 53 points (6 goals, 4 assists)
DeBrusk also has 27 goals
PP% 25.9% (3rd in the NHL)
PK% 79.9% (17th in the NHL)
2.59 GAA (3rd in the NHL)
3.13 GFA (11th in the NHL)
Season Series:
March 12, 2019 @CBJ: CBJ 7 BOS 4
March 1, 2019 @BOS: BOS 2 CBJ 1 (OT)
April 2, 2019 @CBJ: BOS 6 CBJ 2
These results are a mixed bag, but much more relevant than the early season TOR games. All of these games are recent games with post-trade-deadline rosters. The glaring exception is that Pastrnak didn’t play in either of the games in March but did skate in the 6-2 BOS win on April 2.
Why it will be BOS
· Veteran leadership and experience. While this league has become a young-mans game where speed and skill have started to take over, the Bruins have proven that veteran experience makes a difference.
· Team defense and solid goaltending. This is how CBJ counteracted TBL speed and skill and how BOS has been successful against TOR.
· Mental edge. Some of these BOS guys were around for that fateful 2 minutes in 2013 and almost all of them played in last year’s series. Some may say they are in the heads of the TOR players.
If its BOS
The eyeball test says that BOS and CBJ are very similar teams, some would call the CBJ: Boston-lite. Columbus doesn’t seem to match up well against teams that play a similar game. The hard hitting, grid-it-out hockey style works for the Jackets, it also works very well for other teams against them. Playoff experience also is a huge advantage for BOS and may play in their favor in tonight’s Game 7 against TOR. Depending on which goalie shows up on what night, the goaltending looks pretty even with both Bob and Rask having ups and downs this season, but both with the skills to steal a game or series.
Is BOS the team that the CBJ will face in Round 2?
What would the outcome of a CBJ v. BOS series be?
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