Daily Bean: Bruins Win, Another Gameday; Eastern Conference Playoff Race

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Fans pass a giant flag before Game 7 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series between the Boston Bruins and the Florida Panthers, Sunday, April 30, 2023, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

The Bruins won last night, signed a goalie this morning, and are back on the ice tonight.

It was a big win for the Bruins last night, taking down the Minnesota Wild 6-3 and avenging December’s 6-2 loss in St. Paul.

The results around the Eastern Conference helped out, as the Bruins have a three-point cushion as the first wild card. The Red Wings, Blue Jackets, Penguins, and Senators all lost yesterday. The Canadiens, well, it was Saturday, Cole Caufield scored, and they won.

Also, with college seasons ending, it is time for teams to sign college prospects and free agents. The Flyers are looking at their 2025 first-round pick, and the Bruins inked Merrimack’s goaltender.

Happy Sunday, catch up on Bruins and league news in today’s Daily Bean:

Boston Bruins​

BRUINS WIN: The Boston Bruins (41-24-8) posted six goals on the Minnesota Wild (41-21-12) last night at the TD Garden. Pavel Zacha and Elias Lindholm both scored two goals, Andrew Peeke opened the scoring just 61 seconds in, and Viktor Arvidsson scored his 21st of the season. Jeremy Swayman also made 32 saves.

BREAK APART: The second line factored into three of the six goals last night, continuing their season-long tear for the Bruins. After the game, Marco Sturm said he is comfortable with the lines the team has now.

Elias Lindholm also has five points in the last four games after coming out of the Olympic break with three in 12 games.


GAMEDAY: And now the Bruins are in Ohio. They will take on the Columbus Blue Jackets (38-24-11), who sit in the second wild card spot. The Bruins beat the Blue Jackets during their last time out.

This one is important for the playoff picture as well.

Prospects Update​

LUNDGREN: The Bruins signed Merrimack goaltender and Hockey East Tournament MVP, Max Lundgren, to a one-year entry-level contract on Sunday.

Providence Bruins (video via ): James Hagens scored his first professional goal last night. The P-Bruins play again today at 3:05 PM.

JAMES HAGENS ON THE POWER PLAY FOR HIS FIRST PROFESSIONAL GOAL pic.twitter.com/G3Ri7l2ya7

— Providence Bruins (@AHLBruins) March 29, 2026

Will Zellers had two assists for North Dakota in the NCAA tournament last night. The Fighting Hawks beat Quinnipiac 5-0, and ended the season for Bruins’ prospects Chris Pelosi and Elliott Groenewold.

Zellers and North Dakota are off to the Frozen Four in Las Vegas, NV.


NCAA Tournament Schedule:

• Western Michigan (1) vs. Denver – 3:00 PM (ESPN2)
• Michigan vs. Minnesota Duluth – 5:30 PM (ESPN)

NHL News & National Hockey Now​

Sportsnet ‘Saturday Headlines’: Elliotte Friedman has the latest news from around the league. Anaheim and Toronto play on Monday night, and Radko Gudas, who is injured, wants to play in the game on Monday, “no matter what.” Friedman also has updates on college prospects, like Gavin McKenna and Porter Martone.

San Jose Hockey Now: The San Jose Sharks took down the Columbus Blue Jackets in regulation yesterday. Igor Chernyshov scored the game-winner with less than two minutes to play.

Philly Hockey Now: The Flyers and Red Wings met in Detroit last night, and it was almost a disaster for Philadelphia. Detroit scored three goals late in the third, taking it from 4-0 to 4-3, but could not complete the comeback.

Ottawa Hockey Now: With a 4-2 loss to the Lightning yesterday, the Senators’ playoff chances took a hit. There was controversy about the Senators starting James Reimer over Linus Ullmark, but after the game, it was announced that Ullmark needed a rest and was not available for yesterday’s game.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The Penguins lost, too, but it was by their own doing. They could not stay out of the penalty box and the Stars took advantage of that. The Stars had five straight power plays and scored on two of them. The Bruins are two points up on the Penguins, but they rank third in the Metropolitan.

Montreal Hockey Now: The Canadiens won last night, beating the Predators 4-1 at the Bell Centre. They still remain two points up on the Bruins with a game in hand.


STANDINGS (playoff odds per MoneyPuck):

Atlantic:

1. Sabres – 98 points, 8 games remaining, 99.99% odds
2. Lightning – 96 points, 10 games remaining, 99.99% odds
3. Canadiens – 92 points, 10 games remaining, 97.3% odds

Metropolitan:

1. Hurricanes – 98 points, 10 games remaining, 100% odds
2. Islanders – 89 points, 8 games remaining, 73.5% odds
3. Penguins – 88 points, 9 games remaining, 70.4% odds

Wild Card:

1. Bruins – 90 points, 9 games remaining, 82.7% odds
2. Blue Jackets – 87 points, 9 games remaining, 56.1% odds
3. Red Wings – 86 points, 10 games remaining, 38.8% odds
4. Senators – 86 points, 9 games remaining, 53.9% odds
5. Flyers – 82 points, 11 games remaining, 18.5% odds

Today’s NHL Schedule​

Panthers at Rangers – 1:00 PM (US: NHLN, CA: SN1)

Predators at Lightning – 5:00 PM

Canadiens at Hurricanes – 5:00 PM

Bruins at Blue Jackets – 5:00 PM (US: NESN, CA: SN)

Blackhawks at Devils – 7:00 PM (US: NHLN)

Stars at Flyers – 7:00 PM

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The post Daily Bean: Bruins Win, Another Gameday; Eastern Conference Playoff Race appeared first on Boston Hockey Now.

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