Certainly one of six groups inside 4 factors of the ultimate Japanese Convention wild-card spot, the Boston Bruins embark on a make-or-break five-game highway journey, which begins Thursday night time in Las Vegas towards the Pacific Division-leading Vegas Golden Knights.
Boston (30-30-9, 69 factors), seventh within the Atlantic Division, is 4 factors behind the Montreal Canadiens (33-27-7, 73 factors), who’ve two video games in hand, for the ultimate playoff berth. The Bruins have misplaced three in a row and are simply 11-18-3 on the highway.
Nonetheless, interim head coach Joe Sacco is optimistic heading into the highway journey, which additionally features a weekend back-to-back at San Jose and Los Angeles adopted by a Wednesday contest in Anaheim and a sport at Detroit on March 29. The Rangers (72 factors), Islanders (70), Columbus (70) and Purple Wings (70) are additionally within the logjam for the ultimate wild-card spot.
“We’re nonetheless within the thick of issues right here, and nothing modifications for us or in our mindset in how we put together or prepare for video games,” Sacco mentioned. “There’s nonetheless one thing to play for right here. You string collectively a few wins, and also you’re proper again in it. You by no means know.”
The Bruins are available in off a bitter 3-2 time beyond regulation loss to visiting Buffalo on Monday. Alex Tuch scored the game-winner on an influence play with a redirection of Owen Energy’s shot with simply 11 seconds remaining within the further interval to disclaim the Bruins an important second level.
“Very irritating, however we have got to prepare for the large highway journey,” mentioned proper wing David Pastrnak, who leads the group with 34 targets and 83 factors. “Total, the hassle was there at present. I suppose we are able to construct on that. We should be higher as a result of we’re occurring a heavy West Coast journey, and if we do not present up with effort and hard-work ethic, it is not going to be fairly.”
First up is Vegas (39-20-8, 86 factors), which is in a playoff dogfight with second-place Edmonton (40-24-4, 84) and third-place Los Angeles (36-21-9, 81) for first place and likewise house ice benefit within the Pacific Division.
The Golden Knights are coming off a disappointing (1-1-2) four-game japanese highway journey that ended with a 3-0 loss at Detroit on Sunday afternoon. They’ve misplaced 4 of their final 5 video games (1-2-2).
The excellent news is that their subsequent three video games are at T-Cellular Enviornment, the place they’re a glowing 24-7-3 this season, and so they comply with a much-needed three-day break.
“We did get two apply days,” Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy mentioned. “After the Detroit (loss), I believed relaxation was extra vital. I do imagine that. (However) we obtained in at an honest hour (early Sunday night time) (and) we determined to apply (Tuesday). That was one we went backwards and forwards on.
“I simply felt we wanted to get a tempo apply in to get some touches in,” Cassidy continued. “That is the place I believed we left performs on the desk all week, performs that our guys sometimes make. So we’ll see the way it performs out this week.”
Middle William Karlsson, out since Jan. 20 with a lower-body damage, was a full participant in each practices. Cassidy mentioned Karlsson may very well be cleared to play on Thursday.
–Subject Degree Media