The National Hockey League savors the final week of the regular season, when playoff positioning remains fluid across both conferences. In the Eastern Conference, just three points separate fifth place from eighth place. Similarly competitive in the West, three teams—the Winnipeg Jets, Calgary Flames, and Los Angeles Kings—are locked in a battle for the last playoff spot, also divided by three points. The Bruins face pressure from the Ottawa Senators, who matched Boston for the eighth and final spot after securing a 4-3 overtime victory against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday night. Boston’s advantage lies in having a game in hand and the tiebreaker edge of more regulation plus overtime wins.
This situation underscores a crucial reality: the Bruins control their own playoff fate. Should Boston win all three of their remaining regular season contests, Ottawa’s performance in their final two games becomes irrelevant. The Bruins took the ice Wednesday night (as the Record went to press) against the Washington Capitals, who have already clinched a playoff spot and are pursuing home-ice advantage in the first round. Thursday’s contest (7:30pm) sends Boston to Florida to face the already-eliminated Panthers, a potentially dangerous matchup because they have nothing to lose. The regular season concludes Saturday (7:30pm) with a matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning, who continue their pursuit of second place in the Eastern Conference standings against the Montreal Canadiens.
The Bruins also remain positioned to capture the third Atlantic Division playoff spot, sitting just one point (96-95) behind the Pittsburgh Penguins for the first wild card position while holding a game in hand. The Detroit Red Wings, currently in sixth place, lead Boston by two points overall and by two points in the Atlantic Division. These overlapping scenarios create an atmosphere of playoff intensity surrounding this week’s games.
Goaltender Tuukka Rask faces a demanding stretch, having already appeared in 67 regular season games, making rest an impractical option given the stakes. Dougie Hamilton’s upper-body injury keeps him out, though he did not travel to Washington and could return for the remaining road contests. Despite missing Monday’s practice after blocking a shot against Toronto, Captain Zdeno Chara was anticipated to play in all three of Boston’s final regular season games.
FROZEN FOUR ICINGS:
The TD Garden will host a Frozen Four semifinal game Thursday evening, providing an opportunity for Bruins fans to observe two NHL Draft prospects: Boston University defenseman Matt Grzelcyk (3rd Round 2012) and North Dakota goaltender Zane McIntyre (6th Round 2010). These two will compete in the second semifinal matchup Thursday (8:30pm) as Boston University takes on North Dakota. The opening semifinal will pit Providence against Omaha (5:00pm). Winners advance to the Frozen Four Championship final on Saturday (4/11 at 7:30). Fans are also invited to meet ESPN SportsCenter commentator John Buccigross and lead hockey analyst Barry Melrose Friday night (6:30pm) at The Greatest Bar in Boston (262 Friend Street, Boston). The event features giveaways of Championship Game tickets plus opportunities for photographs and autographs with both analysts.