We looked at the potential matchups in the Metropolitan Division yesterday and the Atlantic looks about the same. The top three seeds are virtual locks at this point in the season to finish at their current position.

The Boston Bruins can just about start stitching together their inaugural Atlantic Division championship banner, but their first round opponent is still in question. The Detroit Red Wings are doing their best to concede the final wild card spot, losing a bad one at the Joe Louis Arena Thursday night.

Here’s a glimpse of what we can expect to see with these potential playoff encounters.

(1) Boston Bruins vs. (8) Detroit Red Wings

At first glance this series has the potential to be very brief. To the extent that they could potentially call the series off after only three games. Or so that’s what you would think when comparing these two teams this year.

The injury report in Detroit is as long as the list of corrupt politicians, and includes the better part of the opening night lineup. The silver lining for the Hockeytown faithful is that Detroit has been getting fed a steady, and nutritious, diet of talent from the 2013 Calder Cup champion Grand Rapids Griffins. While that may not make most NHL teams tremble with trepidation, GM Ken Holland has long employed the practice of “over-ripening” his talent in the AHL.

With news that Pavel Datsyuk and captain Henrik Zetterberg could return for a playoff run, there could be plenty of optimism and momentum from a 23rd consecutive playoff appearance.

The Bruins have been a picture of dominance in the Eastern Conference before Montreal ended their winning streak in a shootout Monday night. The B’s responded with a 3-0 skunking of the defending champ, Chicago Blackhawks Thursday as they ready themselves for the second season. The sting of the 2013 Stanley Cup Final is still eating at this talented bunch and they have the potential to steamroll right through the conference for an encore appearance. They’ll need to stay focused against a wounded, but proud and very dangerous Detroit club.

(3) Montreal Canadiens vs. (4) Tampa Bay Lightning

Regardless of how these two clubs finish in the standings, they are virtually assured of meeting in the first round of the playoffs. The last time these two squared off in the postseason, the Lightning were on the good end of a 4-0 series sweep en route to the first and only Stanley Cup in franchise history. The Lightning finally look like the team that GM Steve Yzerman was trying to assemble when he took over as general manager in 2010. A breakout season from goaltender Ben Bishop has made the biggest difference for Tampa so far. He has staked a claim as a Vezina Trophy candidate, stepping up as the franchise goaltender that the club had lacked in recent years.

Montreal has responded well to the experts who suspected that their 2013 division title was a fluke. Like Tampa Bay, the Habs boast a healthy mixture of young and veteran players that have stepped up big this year. The key for Montreal has been their strength on defense. It all starts and ends with Carey Price, who has been the backbone of the Canadiens all year. Reigning Norris Trophy winner P.K Subban has also been outstanding, playing a more complete game at both ends of the ice. As stout as Les Habitants have been on defense this season they’ll need more consistent scoring from Max Pacioretty, Thomas Vanek and sophomore Brendan Gallagher if they want to get past Tampa.