Buckle up, hockey fans, the 2020-21 NHL season is right around the corner.
The league officially announced on Sunday the details of the upcoming campaign, including a regular season start date of Jan. 13.
The 2020-21 season also will be set up a little differently than fans are used to seeing. The most notable changes include a division realignment and a different playoff format.
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Ranking the Bruins' top 10 prospects
All of the seven Canadian teams are in one division due to travel restrictions stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the Bruins have been placed in the "East" division with the Buffalo Sabres, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals.
Here's how the league will conduct the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs:
"The top four teams in each division will qualify for the playoffs. The first two rounds will be intradivisional, with the first-place team playing the fourth-place team and the second-place team facing the third-place team in the first round. The four teams that advance from the second round to the Semifinal Round will be seeded by their points total in the regular season (No. 1 vs. No. 4; No. 2 vs. No. 3)."
Boston Bruins
The Bruins, despite a disappointing offseason that didn't include any major upgrades to their roster, still enter the new season as one of the favorites to win the Stanley Cup.
Bruins d-man Kevan Miller expects to be ready for 2020-21 season opener
Given the age and contract status of Boston's veteran core, the 2020-21 campaign might be this group's last good opportunity to win a championship.
If you're not ready for the upcoming Bruins season, the hype video the team released Sunday night should do the trick.
Check it out in the post below: