Unless there is a significant breakdown, the Bruins are on track to secure the President's Trophy and will face the second-place Wild Card team in the opening round. The question remains: which matchup is ideal for them?
Currently, three teams are in close contention for a Wild Card position, namely the Islanders (WC1), Panthers (WC2), and Penguins (trailing by 1 point). Additionally, three more teams are not too far behind, including the Senators, Capitals, and Sabres.
As Ryan mentioned, a face-off with the Panthers would be highly entertaining, but it's worth noting that the Panthers have defeated the Bruins twice this season.
The Islanders, among the Wild Card teams, could be the most daunting opponent. They adopt a playoff-style, shutdown strategy throughout the season and possess a goalie in Ilya Sorokin who has the potential to dominate a series. However, they are missing their star player, Mathew Barzal, who has been sidelined since February 20th.
The Penguins might be the most favorable matchup for the Bruins. Despite being one of the most inconsistent teams in the NHL this season, their experienced core - similar to the Bruins - has a proven winning track record.
