How Bruins Can Clinch Stanley Cup Playoffs Spot Thursday
The Boston Bruins don't play on Thursday but have a magic number of two to clinch a spot in the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs and could secure a berth with some help.
How Bruins Can Clinch Stanley Cup Playoffs Spot Thursday originally appeared on NESN . Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The Boston Bruins ' run of eight straight Stanley Cup playoffs berths ended during the 2024-25 season after a disappointing 33-39-10 campaign.
Under first-year head coach Marco Sturm, the Bruins have a chance to officially clinch a return to the postseason as early as Thursday night. Boston (43-26-10, 96 points) doesn't play again until Saturday but is currently at the top of the Wild Card standings. The Bruins would lock up a playoff berth on Thursday if the Columbus Blue Jackets (39-27-12, 90 points) lose in regulation against the Buffalo Sabres (48-23-8, 104 points) and the New York Islanders (42-31-5, 89 points) fall in regulation or overtime/shootout vs.
the Toronto Maple Leafs (32-32-14, 78 points). The 2025-26 NHL regular season ends on April 16 and the Stanley Cup playoffs will begin on April 18. More NHL: Boston Bruins Sign James Hagens To NHL Contract