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Bruins NHL Playoff Clinching Scenarios: How Boston Can Earn Berth on April 11 originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
After a three-day break, the Bruins will return to the ice on Saturday afternoon for an Eastern Conference battle against the Lightning.
Boston is currently holding the first wild-card spot with 96 points, and it would face Buffalo in the first round if the NHL Playoffs started today. However, there is still work to do before the Bruins can start preparing for a postseason series.
Here's a complete breakdown on how the Bruins can clinch a playoff berth on Saturday.
Bruins NHL Playoff clinching scenarios
Win vs. Lightning
Let's keep it simple. If the Bruins beat the Lightning this weekend, they will be part of the playoff field.
Overtime loss + Devils win + Senators win OR Jets win
If the Bruins only get one point against the Lightning, they could still clinch a playoff berth with a Devils win over the Red Wings and either a Senators win over the Islanders or Jets win over the Flyers.
In this scenario, it doesn't matter how those three teams beat their opponents.
Devils regulation win + Senators regulation win OR Jets regulation win
Regulation wins from the Devils and either the Senators or Jets would send the Bruins to the playoffs even if Boston fails to earn a point on Saturday.
Full NHL schedule for Saturday, April 11
Here is the full slate of games for Saturday, April 11:
| Game | Time (ET) |
| Lightning vs. Bruins | 12:30 p.m. |
| Senators vs. Islanders | 1 p.m. |
| Capitals vs. Penguins | 3 p.m. |
| Oilers vs. Kings | 4 p.m. |
| Devils vs. Red Wings | 5 p.m. |
| Blues vs. Blackhawks | 5 p.m. |
| Wild vs. Predators | 5 p.m. |
| Rangers vs. Stars | 5 p.m. |
| Hurricanes vs. Mammoth | 5 p.m. |
| Panthers vs. Maple Leafs | 7 p.m. |
| Blue Jackets vs. Canadiens | 7 p.m. |
| Flyers vs. Jets | 7 p.m. |
| Flames vs. Kraken | 7 p.m. |
| Golden Knights vs. Avalanche | 8 p.m. |
| Canucks vs. Sharks | 10 p.m. |
Bruins remaining schedule 2026
Boston has three games left in the regular season, starting with Saturday's contest against Tampa Bay.
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) |
| April 11 | vs. Lightning | 12:30 p.m. |
| April 12 | at Blue Jackets | 6 p.m. |
| April 14 | vs. Devils | 7 p.m. |
NHL standings 2026
Atlantic Division
| Team | GP | W | L | OTL | Pts |
| Buffalo Sabres* | 80 | 49 | 23 | 8 | 106 |
| Montreal Canadiens* | 79 | 47 | 22 | 10 | 104 |
| Tampa Bay Lightning* | 79 | 48 | 25 | 6 | 102 |
| Boston Bruins | 79 | 43 | 26 | 10 | 96 |
| Ottawa Senators | 79 | 42 | 27 | 10 | 94 |
| Detroit Red Wings | 79 | 41 | 29 | 9 | 91 |
| Florida Panthers*** | 79 | 37 | 38 | 4 | 78 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs*** | 79 | 32 | 33 | 14 | 78 |
Metropolitan Division
| Team | GP | W | L | OTL | Pts |
| Carolina Hurricanes** | 79 | 51 | 22 | 6 | 108 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins* | 79 | 41 | 22 | 16 | 98 |
| Philadelphia Flyers | 79 | 40 | 27 | 12 | 92 |
| New York Islanders | 79 | 43 | 31 | 5 | 91 |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | 79 | 39 | 28 | 12 | 90 |
| Washington Capitals | 79 | 40 | 30 | 9 | 89 |
| New Jersey Devils*** | 79 | 40 | 36 | 3 | 83 |
| New York Rangers*** | 79 | 33 | 37 | 9 | 75 |
*clinched playoff berth
**clinched division
***eliminated
Eastern Conference wild card
| Rank | Team | GP | W | L | OTL | Pts |
| WC1 | Boston Bruins | 79 | 43 | 26 | 10 | 96 |
| WC2 | Ottawa Senators | 79 | 42 | 27 | 10 | 94 |
| 3 | Detroit Red Wings | 79 | 41 | 29 | 9 | 91 |
| 4 | New York Islanders | 79 | 43 | 31 | 5 | 91 |
| 5 | Columbus Blue Jackets | 79 | 39 | 28 | 12 | 90 |
| 6 | Washington Capitals | 79 | 40 | 30 | 9 | 89 |
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