It's a different look, but hockey is back. The top 12 teams in each conference are participating in this return to play; the top four of those 12 are officially in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but they will contend for seeding. In the East, the Boston Bruins, Tampa Bay Lightning, Washington Capitals, and Philadelphia Flyers represent the top four and will play in the Round Robin. Each team plays one game each against the other three; best record gets #1. The Bruins (the only team to reach the century mark in points) ended up with the best record, but even so, they have to keep it up, as they look to bounce back after coming within one win of a Stanley Cup last season. The Capitals are looking to prove that 2018 wasn't a fluke. Last year, they were taken down in a seven-game thriller by the upstart Carolina Hurricanes in the Metropolitan Semifinals.
The Flyers were one of the hottest teams in the league entering the pandemic pause. They went on a winning tear that saw them leapfrog the Penguins and end up on Washington's heels. It's because of that tear that they ended up as the East's top four and on the catbird seat while the other eight East clubs tear each other apart. However, if there's any team who is looking to rebound the most, it's the Lightning. We saw how last year went. 62 wins. 62 WINS. None in the playoffs. Swept by Columbus. The only way they redeem themselves after that horrendous disappointment is a Cup. Anything else for them is unacceptable.
So who will take the East Round Robin? All four teams are capable, though even with the tear they had, I can't see Philly giving any of the other three teams fits. I still don't really trust TB after last season, so it comes down to Boston and Washington. Both teams are strong; Wash has the Great Eight, but when the dust settles after nine days, Boston should retain their #1 spot.
Predicted finish: Bruins #1, Capitals #2, Lightning #3, Flyers #4
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