Sports Fan Insider <\/p>\n
Keep up with your favorite teams and athletes with daily updates. <\/p>\n
BOSTON (CBS) Prior to the start of this season, many fans of old-time hockey were happy to see that the Bruins and Red Wings would be playing in the same division under the NHLs most recent realignment. And now at the end of the regular season, theyre getting more than they could have realistically hoped for. <\/p>\n
The two Original Six teams will meet in the postseason for the first time since 1957, introducing a new generation or two to a whole new brand of playoff hockey. <\/p>\n
Though the Bruins finished the regular season as the best team in the entire NHL, this matchup of the top seed versus the eighth seed is expected to be a close one. Thats in part due to the Red Wings winning the season series three games to one against Boston, and its in part due to the mystique if you will of that Detroit sweater in the playoffs. Its true that the Wings havent made it deep in the playoffs since losing in the Stanley Cup Final in 2009, but theyre a team with a firm base, a solid coach, and a home rink that is sure to be packed and loud for Games 3 and 4 and Game 6 if necessary. <\/p>\n
The Bruins are the better team on paper, but in the NHLs postseason, truly anything can happen. And usually, it does. <\/p>\n
Here are four items to watch during what should be an entertaining series between two of the NHLs classic franchises. <\/p>\n
Whos Healthy? <\/p>\n
Nobody wanted to wait from Sunday until Friday for this series to get under way, but considering the number of injured and\/or sick players involved, both teams are likely happy to have had a few extra days to recover and regroup. <\/p>\n
Patrice Bergeron, Loui Eriksson, Kevan Miller, Chris Kelly and Matt Bartkowski were all absent from the Bruins first practice of the week due to a flu bug (and back issues for Kelly), though all but Kelly and Bartkowski were able to return to the ice by Thursday. Daniel Paille sustained what has to be assumed as a concussion on Saturday, and hes yet to skate since taking a hit from Buffalos Jake McCabe. Dennis Seidenberg, a long shot to return this postseason, also got in some intense skating work as he tries to pull off a rapid recovery from a torn ACL. <\/p>\n
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Bruins-Red Wings: What To Watch For<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Sports Fan Insider Keep up with your favorite teams and athletes with daily updates. BOSTON (CBS) Prior to the start of this season, many fans of old-time hockey were happy to see that the Bruins and Red Wings would be playing in the same division under the NHLs most recent realignment. And now at the end of the regular season, theyre getting more than they could have realistically hoped for Continue reading