In terms of meeting expectations, the Bruins are living up to the mediocrity that many pundits predicted entering the 2016-17 season. In terms of sensing urgency, the Black and Gold are far from showing any during another roller coaster campaign.

Entering their upcoming home and home with Jack Eichel and the rest of the Buffalo Sabres to close out 2016, the Bruins (18-15-4) sit three points ahead of the Tampa Bay Lightning for third in the Atlantic Division. Given that the two wild card spots will likely go to the fourth and fifth place teams in the Metropolitan Division, Claude Julien and company will likely need to stay in the top three in the Atlantic in order to secure a return trip to the playoffs after a two-year absence.

A 3-5-2 skid in their last 10 games has given way for teams like the Lightning, Panthers and Maple Leafs to come within striking distance of that third place spot in the Atlantic. All three teams have at least two games in hand entering Wednesday’s slate of games.

From that standpoint alone, the Bruins enter this two-game stretch absolutely needing points against another team beneath them in the standings. But looking at the big picture from a morale and confidence standpoint, a four-point outcome – and a season sweep – of the Sabres is an absolute must for the Black and Gold.

It may be far-fetched to some on why two games in the middle of the regular season are must wins. The way the Bruins’ season has progressed over the last few weeks would claim otherwise. Losses to the Avalanche and Islanders at the TD Garden where they were outperformed by two of the worst teams in their respective conferences indicate a high level of frustration throughout Boston. That message should be very clear when the Bruins face a Sabres squad that stands in 14th place in the Eastern Conference starting Thursday night in Buffalo and concluding Saturday night on Causeway Street where the B’s are 8-9-0 this season.

A home and home sweep won’t cure every one of the Bruins issues with roster personnel and other trends going forward. At the very least it would stop the bleeding and give the team a little bit of confidence heading into 2017.

A split before the new year would figuratively keep the team in neutral. Getting swept would put the Black and Gold on red alert. Depending on how fans look at this, the former scenario may be just as bad, if not worse than the latter because at least then one would think this would force the hand of upper management to do something.

At a time where desperation is starting to set in, general manager Don Sweeney and team president Cam Neely have hardly been heard from on a public basis.

According to Joe Haggerty of CSNNE, both are scheduled to address season ticket holders at the annual State of the Bruins event in January – delayed this year because of the World Cup of Hockey – and Neely himself has stopped his weekly appearances with Felger and Mazz on 98.5 The Sports Hub.

Although statements from Neely and Sweeney wouldn’t necessarily be reassuring to a disgruntled fan base, staying silent over this stretch is hardly a good alternative either. That’s the last thing the two can afford to do if the worst case scenario comes to fruition and the Bruins lose two more games to close out the new year.

The Bruins are in dire need of a spark outside of David Pastrnak and perhaps the roster they have in place can supply it. That could come in the form of Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron finding their offensive stride again. Or it could come from Frank Vatrano once he gets his legs underneath him after returning to action following his recovery from a foot injury suffered in training camp. Or maybe Sweeney gets some help and pulls off a trade for a top-four defenseman and a forward who can help the B’s overcome their goal scoring woes.

They may also be in dire need of a shakeup if things like close starts and playing from behind come back to plague the Black and Gold against the Sabres. And it may lead to Claude Julien being the fall guy sooner rather than later.

Two games in late December, but this may as well be early April.