The Boston Bruins, barring a surreal and extremely unlikely collapse, are heading back to the NHL Playoffs after an absence of one year.
The Bruins woke up firmly in the top wild-card place in the Eastern Conference, with a six-point lead over the Columbus Blue Jackets.
They're eight points clear of the playoff cutline.
If the season ended today, the Bruins would be heading to Carolina to take on the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Hurricanes have won at least one playoff series every single year since 2019, with multiple Conference Finals appearances mixed in to that run of form.
The two teams met in the first round in 2022, with the Hurricanes knocking off Boston in seven games, a tightly-contested series.
This year, despite another banner-worthy regular season, might be an even weaker Hurricanes team than usual, due to their one glaring weakness:
Goaltending.
Frederik Anderson or Brandon Bussi would be their presumed netminders, with Pytor Kochetkov still out injured.
All three are marred by inconsistencies. Bussi, a former Providence Bruin, is a beatable goalie on any given day. The Bruins beat Anderson on multiple occasions while he was a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Both teams utilize their speed and a heavy forecheck. It would be an intense series, but it could come down to one simple thing.
Goaltending.
Would you rather have Jeremy Swayman in net, or one of Anderson, Bussi, or Kochetkov?
32 NHL General Managers will tell you they'd take Swayman.
Swayman, who is in the running to be a Vezina Finalist, has been one of the most consistent Bruins all year.
He is the single biggest X-factor for any potential Bruins deep run in the postseason.
If the Bruins did beat Carolina, they'd likely face one of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Blue Jackets, or the New York Islanders.
Pittsburgh and Columbus have unproven and inconsistent goaltenders, just like Carolina. They're also worse systemically, and could be excellent matchups for Boston.
The Islanders have Ilya Sorokin, but the Bruins swept the Islanders in the regular season this year.
If Boston makes the playoffs, they should want to go through the Metropolitan Division. It's their best shot at a deep run, with juicy matchups for Boston to exploit.