The Boston Bruins’ path to the postseason is a simple one. Well, simple in theory.
Even after Sunday’s ugly 6-4 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks, the Bruins can secure a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs simply by winning their final three games. Lose even one of those, though, and Boston will need some outside help (likely from either the Detroit Red Wings or the Philadelphia Flyers) in order to avoid a second consecutive playoff no-show.
The Bruins trail the Red Wings by one point in the NHL’s Atlantic Division standings. They also sit one point back of the Philadelphia Flyers, who lost 6-2 to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday but have four games remaining to the Bruins’ (and Red Wings’) three.
Boston also still has a mathematical chance of catching the Tampa Bay Lightning and finishing second in the Atlantic, but with five points separating the teams, that scenario is highly unlikely.
With that said, here’s a look at the competition that the Bruins, Red Wings and Flyers will face over the final week of the regular season:
Bruins (90 points)
Tuesday vs. Carolina Hurricanes (84 points)
Thursday vs. Red Wings
Saturday vs. Ottawa Senators (81 points)
On paper, the Bruins have the easiest remaining schedule of the three teams in this discussion. Carolina and Ottawa both are out of the playoff hunt, and each of the B’s final three games will be played at TD Garden. (Though given how the team has fared on home ice this season, that might not be a positive.) That Thursday night showdown between Boston and Detroit easily could end up being a de facto one-game playoff.
Red Wings (91 points)
Wednesday vs. Flyers
Thursday at Bruins
Saturday at New York Rangers (95 points)
The Wings, meanwhile, have a tough road ahead, especially if the Rangers’ playoff seeding isn’t determined before the season finale. Also, the matchup with the Bruins is the second end of a back-to-back for Detroit, while Boston will have a day of rest beforehand. It’s worth noting, though, that the Wings have not missed the postseason since 1990, the longest active streak in American professional sports.
Flyers (91 points)
Wednesday at Red Wings
Thursday vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (67 points)
Saturday vs. Penguins (100 points)
Sunday at New York Islanders (93 points)
The Flyers will be extremely busy this week, ending their season with consecutive back-to-backs. They have been one of the NHL’s hottest teams since late February and are just two points back of the slumping Islanders, who own the East’s first wild-card spot and thus would avoid the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Washington Capitals in the first round if the season ended today. Those two games against the Penguins will be daunting, though, as Pittsburgh has lost only once in its last 13 contests.
Thumbnail photo via David Banks/USA TODAY Sports Images
