Will Boston Bruins clinch top seed in the Atlantic Division against Montreal Canadiens?

The Boston Bruins (54-11-5) are sitting atop the NHL standings with 113 points. The fastest team in league history to clinch 50 wins in a season is one game away from securing the top seed in the Atlantic Division.

The Bruins will host the Montreal Canadiens at TD Garden on Thursday, March 23. The puck drop for the game is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. The Bruins enter tonight on a four-game winning streak.

With a win, the Bruins will clinch first place in the Atlantic Division. They are 13 points up on the Carolina Hurricanes for the top seed in the Eastern Conference. Barring any unforeseen collapse, they will secure themselves home ice advantage for the NHL playoffs.

David Krejci #46 of the Boston Bruins celebrates scoring a goal against the Ottawa Senators with teammates Hampus Lindholm #27, Brad Marchand #63, David Pastrnak #88 and Patrice Bergeron #37 during the first period at the TD Garden on March 21, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images)

The Bruins are currently the favorites to win the President's Trophy, which is given annually to the team with the best record in the league. The team has won 54 games.

If they win nine of their final 12 games, the Bruins will set a record for the most wins in a single season. The 1995-96 Detroit Red Wings and 2018-19 Tampa Bay Lightning currently hold the record with 62 wins.

The Bruins have not lifted the Stanley Cup since 2011. They are heavy favorites to win it this year.

A detailed look at the Boston Bruins' performances before the playoffs

Forwards

The Boston Bruins' forward group is elite. David Pastrnak is one of the most talented players in the league. The Bruins made sure to lock him up to a long-term extension at the NHL trade deadline. The grit and tenacity brought by Brad Marchand and the elite two-way play brought by Patrice Bergeron cannot be overlooked.

The Bruins bought a sack of Magic Beans at the NHL trade deadline when they acquired both Tyler Bertuzzi and Garnet Hathaway. Both have paid immediate dividends as goal scorers and hard-nosed players in their short time with Boston.

Defensemen

The Boston Bruins have assembled a literal brick wall on their blue line.

Their top blueline pairing is Charlie McAvoy and Matt Grzelcyk. They are an absolute nightmare for opposing teams. Their defensive core also features Dmitry Orlov, Hampus Lindholm, Derek Forbort and Conner Clifton. They undoubtedly have the deepest d-core in the league. Read more about them here.