The dog days of summer are still here - and while the 90-degree heat may fool
you into thinking that hockey is a dream that';s still far, far away, that
really isn';t the case. With the calendar turning to September, the start of
the NHL regular season is just over a month away. The drama of the
offseason has, for the most part, shown its face, transforming the teams that
finished the 2017-18 season this spring (or summer) into those that will begin
 with a fresh slate this fall.

In particular, the Atlantic Division is shaping up to be a heavyweight fight.
The Tampa Bay Lightning, who beat out the Bruins by a single point for the top
spot in the Eastern Conference, remain a top-flight contender. Meanwhile, the
Toronto Maple Leafs, who came within minutes of ending Boston';s season in the
opening round of the playoffs, have added superstar John Tavares to an
already-explosive offense, making Toronto a very legitimate threat in the
East.The Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning are both strong contenders
 in the Atlantic this season. (Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports)

The Bruins, meanwhile, have had a relatively quiet offseason, adding depth to
their lineup without making any high-profile additions. Still, the team that
finished with the fourth-best record in all of hockey last year remains a
contender. But of course, making a run for the Stanley Cup means first fighting
 your way through the beasts of the Atlantic Division - a task that the Bruins
will wrestle with all season.Strong Start Key to Season Success

The Bruins open the season with a difficult road matchup against the defending
Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals, which, despite being the first game
of the season, will be a strong early test for the team. After that game,
however, the Bruins'; schedule over the course of the first month becomes a lot
 lighter.

Of the twelve games the Bruins have in the opening month of October, only two
are against teams who made the postseason last year (Washington on opening day,
 and Philadelphia on Oct. 25). Five of the games will be played against teams
who finished in the bottom three spots of their conference.Boston';s weak
October schedule provides them with an opportunity to start the season on a
very strong note. (40) (Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports)

Of course, last season';s records are wiped clean. A team who finished with a
poor record last year may be a contender this season. Still, Boston';s opening
month of hockey should provide them with a lot of opportunities to win, and in
 doing so, get off to a strong start in a behemoth division.Last Season';s
Average Start Cost Bruins

At the end of the day, every game is worth the same amount. Sure, a win in
April may feel better. Wins at the end of the season that build momentum
heading into the playoffs may carry more emotional weight. But at the end of
the day, a win is worth two points.

Take a look at last season';s standings. As aforementioned, the Bruins lost the
 top spot in the East to the Lightning by a single point. One more point could
have put them over the edge to win the regular-season conference title (or two
points, depending on how their goal differential may have changed). That point
could have come last October when the Bruins got off to a decent, but by no
means very strong start.Boston';s month of October last season left something
to be desired. This year, they';ll try to right that wrong. (Amy Irvin / The
Hockey Writers)

Last year, the Bruins opened their campaign against the defending Western
Conference champion Nashville Predators. After securing an opening day win, the
 Bruins lost two straight against the Colorado Avalanche, who ended the season
in the West';s final playoff spot. After those two against Colorado, the Bruins
 finished the month with seven games. Four of those games were against teams
who finished in playoff spots, while the other three teams finished in the
bottom two spots of their conference. The Bruins finished their month of
October with a 4-3-3 record, their second-worst month of the season besides
April, when they went 1-3-1.

Needless to say, an extra win or point in October could';ve made a difference
for the Bruins. With a weak early schedule this season, the Bruins have an
opportunity to right a wrong from last season.

The post Strong October Key to Bruins'; Season appeared first on The Hockey
Writers.

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