from Matt Porter of the Boston Globe,

Snapping pucks around the divisions and their trade possibilities, with fewer than six weeks to go before the March 3 deadline …

▪ The Atlantic Division has separated into three tiers: The Bruins, the Maple Leafs and Lightning, and everyone else.

The Bruins are so far ahead of the pack — winning 36 of their first 45 games — that they can keep chasing the NHL wins and points records. Or, they can dial back the minutes for Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, and others. Given the way this season has gone, at some point in March they’ll deploy Tomas Nosek as the No. 2 center and he’ll have a 3-point night. Wondering if they’ll see Jake DeBrusk (possible return after the All-Star break) as their big trade deadline addition.

What is clear is that the Leafs and Lightning are on a collision course, barring a collapse or total servitude to resting veterans by the Bruins — neither of which is likely — or a hard charge up the standings by the Panthers, Sabres or Red Wings.

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