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ESPN employees
NHL followers have had this Thursday, March 9, circled on their calendars for fairly a while.
Tonight’s recreation that includes the Boston Bruins in opposition to the Edmonton Oilers (7:30 ET, exclusively on ESPN+ and Hulu) isn’t just a rematch of the 1990 Stanley Cup Closing — though maybe it is a preview of the 2023 Stanley Cup Closing.
Historical past is being made on each side. The Bruins are on tempo for 65 wins and 136 factors this season, each of which might be NHL information (the present marks are 62 and 132, respectively). They had been the fastest team in NHL history to reach 100 points. Goaltender Linus Ullmark might threaten the NHL document for wins and is nicely forward in the Vezina Trophy race.
On the opposite facet, Connor McDavid leads the league with 54 targets and 124 factors — he is 10 factors away from the league’s No. 2 in targets (Boston’s David Pastrnak), and 28 factors away from No. 2 in factors (Edmonton teammate Leon Draisaitl). Pacewise, he is on a path to 68 targets and 156 factors. The 124 factors is already forward of McDavid’s league-leading level complete from 2021-22, and if he stays on his present tempo, it might be the best mark since Mario Lemieux’s 161 in 1995-96.
In the event you weren’t bought on tuning in already, we have gathered our hockey reporters right here to debate the massive questions heading into this matchup:
The Bruins will end the season with _____ wins and _____ factors.
Ryan S. Clark: Let’s go together with 65 wins and 136 factors. They’ve received 79% of their video games this season and … that is past ridiculous once you say it out loud. The figures I quoted are what would occur if the Bruins preserve going at their present tempo.
It is to not say these numbers cannot change. They definitely can. However at this level, it is exhausting to argue in opposition to a crew that made additions on the commerce deadline to turn out to be even more indomitable.
Victoria Matiash: The Bruins will lose two of their ultimate 20 in regulation and two in extra time. That works out to 49 plus 16 — carry the 1… — 65 wins and 137 factors. Patrice Bergeron & Co. do not solely care to interrupt the document, they need it shattered. Plus, this crew intends to experience into the playoffs as sizzling as potential.
Kristen Shilton: Boston will find yourself with 64 wins and 134 factors. As soon as the Bruins break the NHL document for many regular-season victories — which appears like a foregone conclusion at this level — it solely is sensible that they may relaxation a few of their veterans. That is in preparation for what they hope — and all of us assume — shall be an extended spring forward.
For pretty much as good as these Bruins have been the previous a number of months, the true Boston behemoth should earnestly emerge in April.
Greg Wyshynski: The Bruins will end with 63 wins to interrupt the NHL document for many within the common season and 132 factors to tie the 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens for essentially the most in NHL historical past in a single season. (Montreal wins the tiebreaker, having accomplished it in 80 video games.)
In addition to being a steamroller, Boston has a reasonably manageable schedule the remainder of the way in which, with an equal variety of playoff contenders and lottery groups. They will make historical past, then give their veteran gamers a much-deserved breather earlier than the postseason grind.
Connor McDavid and David Pastrnak are tops within the league in purpose scoring proper now. Who’ll win the Rocket Richard at season’s finish?
Clark: It is doubtless going to be McDavid or Pastrnak. Though, if we’ve got to choose somebody outdoors these two, possibly Tage Thompson is the reply.
As of Thursday, Thompson is barely two targets behind Pastrnak. Bear in mind, Thompson scored 13 targets within the month of December. He has proven that he can piece collectively these notable scoring streaks. Now he is attempting to do it whereas the Sabres are combating for a playoff spot. He looks as if the strongest non-McDavid/non-Pastrnak candidate.
Matiash: McDavid wins the Rocket with 70, scowling all the way in which. Mikko Rantanen finishes second with 55, shaming many people for not showering him with sufficient comparative consideration this season.
Shilton: It is exhausting to wager in opposition to a participant in McDavid who has scored a number of targets in 12 of 65 video games this season (up to now). McDavid can flip the swap like nobody else in hockey.
It will take a really uncharacteristic dry spell or main damage to carry McDavid off profitable the Rocket. In truth, I would not be stunned to see McDavid end the season with 70 targets.
Wyshynski: McDavid virtually set an NHL document for consecutive multiple-goal video games, and I do not see this scoring bender ending any time quickly.
I am going to say Connor will find yourself with a complete of 69 targets as he completes the very best point-scoring season in NHL historical past by anybody not named Wayne Gretzky or Mario Lemieux.
Will this be our 2023 Stanley Cup Closing matchup? If not, who ya bought?
Clark: Not proper now. Boston seems to be prefer it has the whole lot wanted to achieve the Cup Closing this season. Nevertheless it’s not typically that the Presidents’ Trophy winner additionally brings house the Stanley Cup. Nonetheless, this model of the Bruins seems to be prefer it may merely be completely different.
Edmonton is a difficult one. It is a crew that has struggled to seek out consistency. However that might additionally play to the Oilers’ benefit, given the West has been so tight this yr that no clear-cut favourite has but to interrupt away.
Matiash: Why not? After having misplaced all of eight video games in regulation since October, now the Bruins are anticipated to drop half that complete in a given stretch of two weeks or much less? That math would not make sense. Plus, the membership is even higher in present type with Dmitry Orlov and Tyler Bertuzzi aboard. By no means even thoughts that ahead Taylor Hall may very well be good to rejoin forces up entrance as soon as we get to the knockout stage.
Out west, the very best participant on the earth’s membership lastly acquired a much-needed defensive zone dominator in Mattias Ekholm. That helps. Loads. From a good contending crowd additionally together with the Dallas Stars, Colorado Avalanche — who failed to seize a greater choice to function a second-line heart — Vegas Golden Knights and Minnesota Wild, the Oilers sport pretty much as good an opportunity as any of reaching the final word spherical.
Shilton: Oof. If solely! Think about, initially, three rounds of watching Connor McDavid within the playoffs. That is good theater. Nonetheless, Edmonton’s postseason monitor document makes it powerful to anoint it a real Cup Closing contender simply but. Everyone knows the sport adjustments come playoff time. Can the Oilers carry these defensive components wanted to go all the way in which?
On the opposite facet, the Bruins have proven their capabilities throughout the board all season. Apart from the entire “Presidents’ Trophy winners by no means get anyplace” narrative, there’s zero flaw in arguing that Boston is a Cup Closing favourite. The Western Convention has extra darkish horses than the East. Thus, it is more durable to foretell who will come out on high.
Wyshynski: We have one crew from my preseason Stanley Cup Final, and that is the Oilers. My preseason choose was the Oilers in opposition to the Carolina Hurricanes, as we occasion prefer it’s 2006. I am going to stick to that so long as I can, within the hopes that I am going to appear like a genius if it hits.
However in the event you’re on the lookout for a spicy take right here on the Bruins, right here it’s: I am taking the sector in opposition to Boston within the Japanese Convention playoffs. The following three greatest groups in the complete NHL after the Bruins are the Hurricanes, New Jersey Devils and Toronto Maple Leafs. The Tampa Bay Lightning, who’re in search of a fourth straight journey to the Stanley Cup Closing, and the New York Rangers are each in or close to the highest 10. There’s an opportunity the Bruins might face Sidney Crosby within the first spherical of the playoffs — and anybody who noticed the Pittsburgh Penguins‘ collection in opposition to the Rangers final season is aware of how he can assert his will on a collection.
Perhaps there is a purpose the complete East made commerce deadline strikes. Perhaps these groups do not see the Boston juggernaut as unstoppable.