Boston Bruins: Top 3 questions that remain to be answered in 2020

2. Can the Bruins secure the Presidents’ Trophy with 12 games left in the regular season?

The last time the Bruins won the Presidents’ Trophy was all the way back in 2014. That was a season after they lost in the Stanley Cup Final to the Chicago Blackhawks. Sound familiar? It should. The Bruins seem to be on the path to do the same if they can finish strong in the next 12 games.

However, the question may have been better asked as — do they want to win the Presidents’ Trophy?  The winner of the trophy has not won the Stanley Cup since 2013 when the Blackhawks, in a lockout-shortened season, recorded 77 points and then defeated the Bruins in six games in the Stanley Cup Final. Obvious decision making means most teams want to have the playoffs go through them during the playoffs. Especially in this unique situation this year,

No matter when the league returns, the Stanley Cup Playoffs will be grueling once again and the home-ice advantage could be more important than ever. Especially for a black and gold team that went 22-4-9 in the games played at home before the pause. To dig deeper into the home versus away game splits for the Bruins, the team has dominated no matter where they play this season. While Rask’s stats can be seen as better away, he has three more starts at home and has historically performed better inside the TD Garden.

Not shocking, as having the Boston faithful on his side rather than the opposing team in Game 7 has proven to be more of an advantage than a stumbling block for the team.

The Bruins will need to come out of the gates looking like a different team when the season returns to keep a hold on the Presidents’ Trophy, but teams like the St. Louis Blues and their division rival Tampa Bay Lightning are six and eight points behind, respectively. If they can take care of business, the playoffs should run through Boston.