With the Boston Bruins out of the playoffs, I’ve had several conversations with people about who they’ll support for the rest of the postseason. There are reasons to support each of the remaining teams in the Eastern Conference Playoffs as they continue their quest for the Stanley Cup.
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If you’re like me and enjoy having a team support you (at least temporarily), this is the guide for you. With so much hockey left to watch as the playoffs continue over the next several weeks, here are a few reasons why fans should tune in to these games.
Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes began a minor rivalry with the Bruins in recent seasons dating back to their 2019 sweep of the Eastern Conference Final. The encounters between the two teams have created some of the most fun hockey games to watch in recent years. Former Bruin Ondrej Kase is currently in the squad, although he is on long term injured reserve (LTIR). Max Pacioretty, also on LTIR, is a New England native born in New Canaan, Connecticut.
So, why root them? Well, you can’t deny that Sebastian Aho isn’t a fun player to watch. Jacob Slavin is an underrated defensive lineman in the NHL who deserves a chance to shine on the national stage. As someone who lived in North Carolina for a few years and went to many of their games, I can vouch for their fan base being fun. Also, who could forget the iconography Presentation paper by Jespery Kotkaniemi From the Montreal Canadiens having previously offered the Aho Sheets? The team has certainly made some fun titles in recent years.
New Jersey Devils
One reason to support the New Jersey Devils for the next few weeks is that they probably hate the New York teams as much if not more than the Boston fans. As the saying goes, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. The list also contains multiple boston connections. And that includes John Marino, the Massachusetts defenseman, who doesn’t like seeing homegrown talent do well? Eric Haula, Curtis Lazar, and Dougie Hamilton are all former Bruins (I don’t know they all left on great terms, but still). While Miles Wood is an annoyance every time the team faces Boston, he’s also a product of Boston College and Noble & Greenough High School.
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Besides the roster’s ties to the Boston Hurricanes, the team has young players who are fun and exciting to watch. One of those players, former first overall pick Jack Hughes, is doing great First postseason experience With 10 points in 11 games. Of the teams left in the East, the Bruins also probably have the least blood with the Devils at the moment. They also had a really great game during the regular season with fun games to watch.
Toronto Maple Leafs
no one.
(Rivalship aside, Auston Matthew and Mitch Marner are two very interesting players to watch, even though they don’t have great series. They currently have Noel Acciari on the roster, who is a New England producer as well as a former Boston Bruin.)
Florida panthers
If you’re going to lose in the first round of the playoffs, does it soften the sting at least a bit to be losing to the would-be champions? At the end of the day, they proved fair and square to be the better team and deserved to win the Final 7. While Colin White and Casey Fitzgerald don’t see much playing time, both from the Boston area, the team has given the local talent to back it up.
Plus, they’re playing as a championship team now, so it’s not too hard to root for them. Matthew Tkachuk is a student of Brad Marchand’s School of Pests, and let’s be honest, most people can’t help but have fun watching a player like that, especially when they have the skills to back him up. He may not have the best streak, but he’s still a great player to watch and one of the best American players currently in the league. Also, they’re up against the Maple Leafs, so many Boston fans will automatically want to see them come out of this round on top.
East continues to provide fun games
If you haven’t tuned in to any games since the Bruins came out, I highly recommend checking out some of the fights still going on in the East. The games were entertaining and some really great hockey talent was on display.
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In a perfect world of course, the Bruins would still be in the mix. But, unfortunately, they were not, and hockey still goes on. With the level of talent still standing in Eastern postseason teams, there are sure to be plenty of great fights in the Conference Finals and the Stanley Cup.