Presidents’ Trophy race update, first-round playoff scenarios for Brui…
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Presidents’ Trophy race update, first-round playoff scenarios for Bruins originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Presidents’ Trophy curse is real.
The last 10 winners did not go on to lift the Stanley Cup that season. The Boston Bruins were the latest victim last season when they set NHL records for most points and wins in a season and were upset in Round 1 by the Florida Panthers.
They actually have a decent shot at winning the Presidents’ Trophy again, but given the results of the last week, there are now seven teams with a legit chance of taking home this award that no one wants.
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It’s been a long time since the Presidents’ Trophy race was this tight so late into the season.
The important thing for the Bruins is to not focus on winning the Presidents Trophy and getting home ice advantage throughout the playoffs. Home ice is slightly overrated these days, and the B’s have won just 16 of their last 30 postseason games at TD Garden anyway.
The focus for the Bruins needs to be on health and finding the best lineup combinations for the playoffs.
If the Bruins do repeat as Presidents’ Trophy winners, they would be the first team to do so since the Washington Capitals in 2015-16 and 2016-17. Six teams have won the Presidents’ Trophy in back-to-back years. The first three won the Stanley Cup in the second year. The last three failed.
The Bruins have won the trophy four times and got past the second round in only one of those instances — 1990, when they lost to the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup Final.
Here’s an updated look at the division race, wild card race and Boston’s most likely first-round opponents.
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