Blackhawks Daily: Bruins Looking for Leadership as Division Race Tightens

The Chicago Blackhawks have something special in Connor Bedard–who is having a terrific rookie campaign that might end with a Calder Trophy at the end. Despite that excitement, it will still be a season devoid of the playoffs. Not so for the Boston Bruins, though, who didn’t miss a beat losing a number of key players last offseason.

The Bruins are tustling with the defending Eastern Conference champion Florida Panthers for Atlantic Division crown. Like last year’s first round series that Florida rallied to win, it’ll likely be a battle to the end.

Boston Hockey Now’s Jimmy Murphy wrote about how the new leadership group must guide the Bruins now. He names Brad Marchand, Charlie McAvoy, and David Pastrnak as a trio of stars who will have to step up and help the Bruins stamp out the doubt lingering from last year’s early exit.

Murphy is right. It won’t be easy as both the division and conference present a formidable challenge. Can the new leadership group show they’ve learned their lessons and get the Bruins over the hump?

Blackhawks In Case You Missed It

• Nolan Allan played big last night for the Rockford IceHogs in a 5-4 shootout win against the Chicago Wolves. Another promising sign for the Blackhawks youth movement
• Can Connor Bedard catch Patrick Kane in points during a rookie campaign? Here’s a look at what he has to do
• Landon Slaggert may very well another important piece playing the type of hockey the Blackhawks are building around.

Hockey Now Network Playoff Focus

• Florida Hockey Now: The Florida Panthers are going to have Aleksander Barkov feeling good right in time for their playoff push.
• New Jersey Hockey Now: The New Jersey Devils are trying to make a playoff push now that they are getting some good goaltending. While it will be a tough go, they’re not quite out of it yet.
• Detroit Hockey Now: The Detroit Red Wings lost a tough one to the Washington Capitals on Tuesday. But their AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins, clinched a postseason berth–giving the prospects some postseason. Can Detroit follow suit?
• Colorado Hockey Now: The Colorado Avalanche lost to the Montreal Canadiens this week but are still angling to win the Central Division–and in good position to do so.