What Bruins must focus on down stretch (and it's not Presidents' Trophy)

Heading into the final stretch of the regular season, the Boston Bruins find themselves atop the Atlantic Division (99 points) with a two-point lead over the Florida Panthers.

Boston is also in the mix for the Presidents' Trophy — the award given to the team that finishes with the most points during the regular season — but that should be the least of its concerns.

Boston steamrolled through the 2022-23 regular season, finishing 65-12-5 and earning the Presidents' Trophy with 135 points. However, the Bruins bowed out of the playoffs in stunning fashion in the first round, losing to Florida in seven games. 

Here are two things the B's must focus on heading into their last eight regular-season games. 

Difficult season-ending schedule

Per Tankathon, the Bruins have the fourth-toughest remaining schedule in the NHL, with six of their last eight regular-season games against playoff-contending teams.

The B's will face the Carolina Hurricanes and Washington Capitals twice and the Nashville Predators and Florida Panthers once each. This tough schedule will help them gauge how they could perform in the postseason.

If the Bruins play well during these last eight games, it could give the team enough confidence to cruise into the playoffs. But it'll give them a brutal reminder of what they could eventually face if they don't.

Playing with sense of urgency

Boston can clinch its eighth straight playoff berth Thursday if the Detroit Red Wings lose to the Carolina Hurricanes in any fashion or if the Philadelphia Flyers lose to the Montreal Canadiens in regulation. 

Perhaps with last season's playoff debacle in mind, head coach Jim Montgomery expressed disappointment with his team's recent play.

"I hated the way we finished the Philly game," he said of the 3-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday. "And the way we started practice today. I don't think our team is ready for the playoffs.” 

The Bruins must clean up their sloppy play before heading into the playoffs. 

Their forecheck has been almost nonexistent, and their offense has been lacking. They are giving up too many goals late in periods, in the net front and shortly after they score a goal. Boston has also been struggling with defensive zone turnovers and blown leads. 

The B's hold a 4-2 record versus the remaining playoff contenders on their schedule, but performing poorly against them could eventually lead to losses piling up.

Boston — which plays next against at the Capitals on Saturday — has exceeded expectations this season, but to make a deep postseason run, this team must step it up a notch.