With the Winter Classic over and done – a classical lack of everything in the 5-1 thrashing by Montreal at Gillette Stadium on New Year’s Day – the Bruins look to 2016 and the second half of the season. That all begins Tuesday when the Stanley-Cup favored Washington Capitals come to Boston. It marks the team’s last home game after a December run in which they played the most at home of any month.

Given the team’s stellar road record the first half, maybe that’s the anomaly that the Hub of Hockey will look back at, if the team makes post-season play. Buts that’s not a good wager in any amount. The better bet is several or most of the following.

10. Settle Loui Eriksson’s contract – Either trade him before the deadline for a top-tier young defenseman or sign him to a long-term deal in January. He becomes an unrestricted free agent July 1.

9. Brad Marchand (truly) showing leadership – Boston’s most electric player made it publicly clear he wants to assume some leadership reins. He can start by ending his penchant for the penalty box. He leads the team in penalty minutes with 56, too many of the egregious and untimely type. He ended the year with the “A” newly stapled to his jersey with David Krejci and Chris Kelly sidelined as alternate captains. How does he respond? By low-bridging Ottawa’s Mark Borowiecki in the first period. Then taking two for slashing at 9:55 of the third period to give Ottawa a man-advantage with the score, 4-3. The Borowiecki hit went without penalty – until the league reviewed it and handed Marchand a three-game suspension that included the Winter Classic. He returns January 9 against, yes, Ottawa. Marchand’s New Year’s resolution might be a public apology around his antics. If he doesn’t mend his ways pronto, his “leadership” posturing is bull.

8. Give Adam McQuaid the Seventh Player Award – Into Tuesday, the quiet, intelligent and unassuming McQuaid has no goals and five assists with a plus-7. But he has been the team’s most underrated player, while also one of its steadiest.

7. “Miller” time is a nightly affair – Kevan Miller and Colin Miller are ready to make the jump to a steady night-in and night-out performance. The Bruins will need to lean on that factor. Colin Miller’s recent assignment to Providence was a message. He will be back soon and the team will need their youth and potential in the second half of the season.

6. Zee and Seids stay healthy — Neither one did last season. When management did not sign a top-four defenseman before the season started, they rolled the dice that Chara and Seidenberg would be able to lead and carry the back end. The former will be 39 in March; the latter, 34, and coming off two major surgeries.

5. Bergeron, Eriksson, Krejci and Marchand average 50-60 points each – The foursome has 117 points in 37 games, an average of about 30 points each so far. Over 82 games, that’s about 67 points each. Take out games lost to injury, and 50-60 is both achievable and necessary.

4. The three new guys produce – Boston acquired Brett Connolly late last season; then traded Reilly Smith for Jimmy Hayes; then signed free agent Matt Beleskey to a 20-million-dollar contract. In 37 games, that trio has a total of 51 points – an average of 17 each, while showing some spark of late. Beleskey comes off a 20-goal season with Anaheim; he has eight so far. (The three had six points in the Ottawa game before the Winter Classic.)

3. Keep the power play the NHL’s best – For most of the first half of the season, Boston’s man-advantage has been the NHL’s best, hovering near 30%.

2. Tuukka may need to play 65-70 games (again) – Last year, Rask appeared in 72 games, far too many according to management with a preseason goal to reduce that load. The team signed Jonas Gustavsson to spell Rask. After a stellar start with three wins, Gustavsson is 3-3-2 since. Meanwhile, Rask is 9-3-2 in his last 14 games. As Rask goes, so go the Bruins’ playoff hopes.

1. Consistency — The most consistent overall fact through 37 games has been Boston’s inconsistency. The Bruins lost their first three games, then won six of seven, then lost five of seven, then took at least one point in 14 of 15, then lost three straight. Now a win and a loss into Tuesday’s game with Washington. Add the disparity between the team’s woeful home and impressive away records — and it all adds up to being consistently inconsistent in 2015.