With just about a week left to go on the regular season, the East Division is still wide open. The Bruins currently sit in third place in the division; however, they can land anywhere between first place and fourth place come playoff time. So even though they have clinched a playoff spot, they still have quite a bit to play for with these last few games. 
Since the standings are far from complete, that means that there are three potential playoff opponents the B’s can face in the first round. Let’s take a look at those three opponents and see how they would match up against the Bruins.
New York Islanders
Probably the most ideal first round opponent for the Bruins in my opinion. The Islanders have had the Bruins number all season, but recently it seems the Islanders have been on a bit of a slide. The Bruins beat the Islanders in their last two meetings, and they have fallen from first place in the division all the way to fourth. They are the least battle tested when it comes to playoff experience, and it seemed that they aren’t quite the same team they were just a month ago.
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Penguins have been the opposite of the Islanders this season, as they have gone from being a team on the fringe of the playoffs to a top two team in the division. With the deadline acquisition of Jeff Carter, the Pens are very deep at the center position when it comes to skill and playoff pedigree. The Penguins are probably the most experienced team when it comes to winning in the playoffs, so they will be a tough out for the Bruins, but not the toughest out.
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals, in my opinion, are the scariest team in the entire league let alone the East Division. The Caps have the perfect mix of size and skill. They have the skill and speed to match up with any team in the league, and they have the size to punch any team in the mouth and make them fold. In recent years, the B’s have struggled against the Caps; however this season, in seven games, the Bruins have won four, so the Bruins have shown they can hold their own. Still, if I were the Bruins, I would look to avoid the Capitals at least in the first round.
Ultimately, when it comes down to it, the Bruins can only really avoid one team if they end up winning in the first round. So, the ideal scenario in my opinion would be that the Bruins play either the Islanders or Penguins in the first round and hope that the Caps get knocked out before the Bruins can meet them in the second round. Either way, this playoff run will undoubtedly be a tough one. Chances are, they won’t get the cake walk they had in the 2019 playoffs when it seemed like the Bruins casually made it to the finals with little resistance. Chances are, if the Bruins do make a deep run, it will be similar to the 2011 run where it seemed like every series (aside from the Flyers series) went the full seven games. It is going to be a battle of attrition, and it is going to be a dogfight.