by Bob Morello
The Boston Bruins are attempting to move past their Monday setback against the Ottawa Senators, which saw them lose ground in the Atlantic Division race. Coach Bruce “Butch” Cassidy will steer the team forward without dwelling on what transpired in Ottawa, instead directing focus toward Wednesday’s matchup at TD Garden against the Detroit Red Wings. Despite the recent loss, the Bruins’ 7-3-0 record over their last ten games represents solid performance under Cassidy’s leadership. The Red Wings, struggling through a difficult campaign, face the prospect of ending a 25-year streak of playoff appearances.
At press time, Boston occupied third place in the Atlantic Division standings, trailing Ottawa by four points while maintaining a two-point advantage over Toronto. The Senators were scheduled to play in Dallas on Wednesday while the Bruins faced Detroit, making those results unavailable for this edition. The divisional picture remained extraordinarily tight, with Ottawa holding two games in hand despite their four-point deficit, and Toronto possessing one game in hand despite trailing by two points. When the Record reaches Chelsea streets Thursday, the 2-4 spots could shift dramatically as several postponed contests get played.
By Thursday’s publication, the Bruins will have attempted to solidify their third-place position following Wednesday’s home contest against Detroit. A strong performance on Garden ice would prove crucial in maintaining their standing. Every point remains vital, and the probability of single-point movements in the rankings grows with each game concluded.
Tuukka Rask was expected to start in goal for Boston’s Wednesday contest. Following the Philadelphia Flyers matchup on Saturday at home, the Bruins embark on a West Coast journey facing the Vancouver Canucks (Monday, 3/13 at 10:00pm), the Calgary Flames on Wednesday (3/15 at 9:00pm)—currently riding a seven-game win streak—and then Peter Chiarelli’s Edmonton Oilers. The tour concludes with a crucial divisional clash against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday, 3/20 at 7:30pm.
The Bruins precariously hold seventh place in the Eastern Conference, though this position remains vulnerable to hourly fluctuations. A significant blow came with Ryan Spooner’s concussion-related injury suffered during Monday’s loss to Ottawa in the third period. The Bruins subsequently called up Austin Czarnik and prompted Cassidy to realign his forward lines, potentially affording Drew Stafford opportunities to demonstrate his versatility throughout Boston’s roster. Five weeks remain in the regular season schedule.