The road to the Stanley Cup now goes through Boston.
The Bruins earned that home-ice distinction with their statement Game 7 win over the Maple Leafs Tuesday night. Now they hope to take advantage of a golden opportunity after three regular season division winners — and potentially a fourth if the defending Cup champion Capitals fall to the Hurricanes on Wednesday — were knocked out in the first round.
Make no mistake, though. The Bruins will have their hands full against John Tortorella’s Columbus Blue Jackets. Boston’s second round opponents are fresh off a historic sweep of the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Tampa Bay Lightning in Round 1.