Bruins have opportunity to do something they haven't done this season ahead of Olympic break

(Photo Credit: Boston Bruins via X)

With five games remaining until the Olympic break, the Boston Bruins have an opportunity to do something they haven't yet been able to do all season - string together consecutive extended winning streaks, and gain separation in the standings.

Heading into Monday nights action against the New York Rangers, the Bruins find themselves with 62 points, a points percentage of .596, and a record of 30-20-2.

Those marks are good enough for 5th place in the Atlantic Division, Wild Card No. 2 in the Eastern Conference, and 11th overall in the NHL standings.

Boston is currently 9-2-0 in the month of January, and 10-2-0 since snapping a 6-game losing streak back on New Years Eve against the Edmonton Oilers.

Despite their success over the past month, however, the Bruins know how quickly things can change and will now do their best to learn from past mistakes.

At the moment, Boston is only 3 points ahead of the Florida Panthers for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, and 5 points ahead of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Philadelphia Flyers, and Washington Capitals.

Now one would think that after having won 10 of their last 12 games that Boston would have more of a strangle hold on a playoff spot rather than simply hanging onto one.

But the fact of the matter is, the Bruins have also suffered two separate 6-game losing streaks this season, and the two subsequent winning streaks that followed - this past month included - for the most part, more or less, undid damage done from said losing.

Here is Boston's win, loss record so far this season in fragments:

• 3-0-0 (Oct. 8 - Oct. 11)

• 0-6-0 (Oct. 13 - Oct. 23)

• 8-1-0 (Oct. 25 - Nov. 11)

• 5-5-0 (Nov. 13 - Dec. 2)

• 4-0-0 (Dec. 4 - Dec. 11)

• 1-5-2 (Dec. 14 - Dec. 29)

• 10-2-0 (Dec. 31 - Jan. 24)

Boston started the year strong at 3-0-0, but then lost 6 straight.

Then they went into damage control mode to prevent their season from figuratively being over before it started by going 8-1-0.

That stretch was then followed up with .500 hockey over their next 10 games.

Next they started off December strong at 4-0-0 before losing 6 of their next 7.

Then once again with their season figuratively on the line, the Bruins went into damage control mode AGAIN winning 8 of their next 9 games, including a 6-game winning streak that was recently snapped at the hands of the Dallas Stars.

Which brings us back to the crux of the article - and illustrates what the Bruins have yet to do so far this season.

Compile back-to-back extended winning streaks and gain some real separation in the standings.

This is something that I mentioned both on a recent episode of The Skate Podcast, as well as my newly launched The PuckUps Podcast (which can be found on YouTube, Apple, and Spotify).

Boston lost to Dallas and had an extended winning streak come to an end - okay, so if you're the Bruins, what are you going to do about it?

Let it turn into a losing streak or at best .500 hockey?

Or get right back on the horse and keep winning?

Well so far, Boston has chosen option two and are now 2-0-0 since losing to the Stars - and while not perfect, they've done so in different fashions against two very formidable opponents this year in the Vegas Golden Knights, and Montreal Canadiens.

Boston came out with their hair on fire against Vegas getting off to a 4-0 lead before falling asleep at the wheel a bit towards then end and hanging on for a 4-3 win.

Then against Montreal, it was kind of the opposite.

The Bruins didn't start on time - but fortunately found their game as regulation went along and were able to rally back for their first 3rd period, come from behind win.

Boston deserves credit for learning from their lopsided loss in Dallas and turning it into consecutive wins against Vegas, and Montreal.

So now 2-0-0 since their last loss, the Bruins now have an incredible opportunity to put together another extended winning streak in short order for the first time this year - and gain even more separation heading into the Olympic break.

No disrespect to their upcoming opponents because anyone can beat anyone on any given night in the NHL - but at least on paper - the Rangers, Predators, and Flyers aren't as good as the Stars, Golden Knights, and Canadiens.

In fact, 4 of the Bruins next 5 games are against non-playoff teams in New York (last in the East), Philadelphia, Nashville, and Florida.

If Boston can follow up their 10-2-0 stretch since NYE with a 5-2-0, or 6-1-0 type stretch post Dallas loss (already 2-0-0 since) to end their schedule before the Olympic break?

It will be something they have yet to do this season, and they'll be in real strong position to make the playoffs with 25 games remaining once their schedule resumes on February 26.