The Boston Bruins return from the NHL Olympic Break tomorrow evening with a game at home against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
It's a huge game with standings implications, with the Blue Jackets sitting ninth in the conference and four points behind the Bruins for the final wild card place.
Including and after that game, the Bruins go on a run of eight games out of 10 against teams
The team that's in a spot is the Pittsburgh Penguins, and they'll be without Sidney Crosby for both games (March 3 and March 8).
That's 10 huge games to bank points before what'll be a gauntlet the rest of the way.
If the Bruins can bank 14–16 points against these teams, it'll make them extremely hard to catch in the playoff race. If they falter and go on a cold streak, it's very easy to see Boston tumbling outside a playoff spot and trying to play catch-up down the stretch.
The first four games in this stretch come before the NHL Trade Deadline next Friday.
It's expected the Bruins will be making at least two trades as General Manager Don Sweeney looks to solidify this roster while not taking away from the retool he performed last season.
As it's been for a while now, the Bruins truly control their own fate. Their prolonged winning streaks (two separate six-game streaks) gave them the cushion they have now.
Now it's time to take advantage.