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How Tuesday’s overtime loss impacted Bruins playoff position
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- How Tuesday’s overtime loss impacted Bruins playoff position
The Bruins have nearly clinched a postseason berth, but they're unlikely to get more than a wild card.
If Boston earns at least three points in its final three games, it is guaranteed a playoff berth no matter what anybody else does. Earning five points, even without help, would assure them the No. 1 wild card. Losses by the other teams in the wild card race would lower the Bruins ' magic number.
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The Bruins' OT loss to the Hurricanes on Tuesday made finishing third in the Atlantic Division, which was already a long shot, almost impossible.
Boston would need to win all three of its remaining games and for Montreal to lose its last four in regulation.
The Bruins Tampa on Saturday.
Below is a look at the races that involve Boston:
Atlantic Division
Top three automatically earn a playoff spot
| GP |
W |
L |
OT |
Pts |
Max |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| x- Tampa Bay |
78 |
48 |
24 |
6 |
102 |
110 |
| x- Buffalo |
78 |
47 |
23 |
8 |
102 |
110 |
| x-Montreal |
78 |
46 |
22 |
10 |
102 |
110 |
| Boston |
79 |
43 |
26 |
10 |
96 |
102 |
x - Clinched a playoff spot
Eastern Conference Wild Card
Top two teams reach the playoffs
| GP |
W |
L |
OT |
Pts |
Max |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston |
79 |
43 |
26 |
10 |
96 |
102 |
| 78 |
41 |
27 |
10 |
92 |
100 |
|
| Columbus |
78 |
39 |
27 |
12 |
90 |
98 |
| 78 |
40 |
29 |
9 |
89 |
97 |
|
| N.Y. Islanders |
78 |
42 |
31 |
5 |
89 |
97 |
| 78 |
39 |
30 |
9 |
87 |
95 |
Tuesday's Results impacting Bruins' playoff races
-
Philadelphia 5, New Jersey 1
-
Ottawa 6, Tampa Bay 2
-
Montreal 4, Florida 3, SO
-
Columbus 4, Detroit 3, SO
-
Carolina 6, Boston 5, OT
Wednesday's Games
-
Buffalo at N.Y. Rangers, 7 p.m.
-
Washington at Toronto , 7:30 p.m.
Schedules for Wild Card contenders
Bruins
-
April 11 vs Tampa Bay, 12:30 p.m.
-
April 12 at Columbus, 6 p.m.
-
April 14 vs New Jersey, 7 p.m.
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Senators
-
April 9 vs. Florida
-
April 11 at N.Y. Islanders
-
April 12 at New Jersey
-
April 15 vs. Toronto
Blue Jackets
-
April 9 at Buffalo
-
April 11 at Montreal
-
April 12 vs. Boston
-
April 14 vs. Washington
Red Wings
-
April 9 vs. Philadelphia
-
April 11 vs. New Jersey
-
April 13 at Tampa Bay
-
April 15 at Florida
Islanders
-
April 9 vs. Toronto
-
April 11 vs. Ottawa
-
April 12 vs. Montreal
-
April 14 vs. Carolina
Who could Bruins face in the playoffs
Let's assume that if they get in, it will be as the first or second wild card. That means facing a division winner. That's one of four potential teams.
1. Carolina— The Hurricanes clinched the Metro by beating the Bruins. They're the favorite to be the No. 1 seed in the East.
2. Tampa— The Atlantic is going to be close. The Lightning , Sabres and Canadiens each have 102 points with four games left. Tampa and Buffalo are tied with 39 regulation wins (the first applicable tie-breaker).
3. Buffalo— Beating the Lightning on Monday was huge for their chances.
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4. Montreal— The Canadiens and Lightning face each other on Thursday.
If Playoffs Began Today
Eastern Conference
Metropolitan 1Carolina vs. Wild Card 2Ottawa
Atlantic 1Tampa Bay vs. WC 1Boston
A2Buffalo vs. A3Montreal
M2 Pittsburgh vs. M3Philadelphia
Where Bruins draft pick from Toronto currently sits
Toronto's first-round pick transfers to Boston as long as it doesn't land in the top five.
Seventh
The Maple Leafs (32-31-14, 78 points) currently have the seventh worst points (.506) percentage with 5 games left.
Chase for No. 1 Pick
| Team |
GP |
Record |
Pts |
PT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Vancouver |
77 |
22-47-8 |
52 |
.338 |
| 2. Chicago |
78 |
28-36-14 |
70 |
.449 |
| 3. Calgary |
77 |
32-36-9 |
73 |
.474 |
| 4. NY Rangers |
78 |
33-36-9 |
75 |
.481 |
| 5. Seattle |
77 |
32-34-11 |
75 |
.487 |
| 6. Florida |
78 |
37-37-4 |
78 |
.500 |
| 7. Toronto -BOS |
77 |
32-31-14 |
78 |
.506 |
| 8. St. Louis |
77 |
33-32-12 |
78 |
.506 |
| 9. Winnipeg |
77 |
34-31-12 |
80 |
.519 |
| 10. New Jersey |
78 |
40-35-3 |
83 |
.532 |
Maple Leafs remaining schedule
-
April 8 vs. Washington
-
April 9 at N.Y. Islanders
-
April 11 vs. Florida
-
April 13 vs. Dallas
-
April 15 at Ottawa
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