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3 Keys to Bruins Winning 2020 Stanley Cup After NHL Restart

By Max Smith

After a monster season, David Pastrnak will look to cap it off with a Stanley Cup this summer.
After a monster season, David Pastrnak will look to cap it off with a Stanley Cup this summer. / Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

When the NHL season was suspended in March, the Boston Bruins were rolling, winning 18 out of their last 22 games. They were declared Presidents Trophy winners after the NHL announced they would not resume the 2020 regular season. Heading into the playoffs, they will be favorites to make it to the Stanley Cup Finals. These are the three keys to success for the Bruins to obtain their ultimate goal.

3. Goaltending

Tuukka Rask will need to replicate his 2019 playoff run if the Bruins want to return to the Stanley Cup.
Tuukka Rask will need to replicate his 2019 playoff run if the Bruins want to return to the Stanley Cup. / Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Tuukka Rask was on another level throughout the Bruins' Stanley Cup run last year. He'll have to replicate that this season if the Bruins want to take home the Cup. He was outstanding once again during the regular season, posting a league-best 2.12 goals against average. At 33, this could be Rask's last chance at a Stanley Cup, and he'll need to be at the top of his game if he wants to achieve that goal.

2. Physicality

Nick Ritchie could be a big part of Bruins playoff run with his physicality.
Nick Ritchie could be a big part of Bruins playoff run with his physicality. / Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

In the end, it was the Bruins lack of physicality that lost them the Cup last season. The Blues wore them down and were able to out-tough them when it mattered most. At the trade deadline, the Bruins brought in Nick Ritchie, who could do a lot to help them in that area in the postseason. The Bruins know this is an area where they struggle, so it will undoubtedly be a focus point as they get ready for the playoffs to begin.

1. Secondary Scoring

Players like Jake Debrusk needs to step up during this playoff run.
Players like Jake Debrusk needs to step up during this playoff run. / Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

This has been the Bruins biggest weakness over the past two seasons. While their "perfection line" of Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, and David Pastrnak has been outstanding, they haven't been able to get enough production out of the second and third lines. Charlie Coyle has taken a big step this year, but they'll need players like Jake Debrusk, Ondrej Kase, and Anders Bjork to step up during the playoffs.