The Bruins are officially back in the playoffs!

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 17: Sam Reinhart #13 of the Florida Panthers skates against Charlie McAvoy #73 of the Boston Bruins in Game Six of the Second Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the TD Garden on May 17, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images It’s not exactly the way you want to clinch a playoff spot, but you’ll take it! After throwing away a point or two via a late regulation loss to Tampa Saturday afternoon, the Bruins officially clinched a playoff spot via a Detroit Red Wings loss later in the day.

The Red Wings, playing at home, needed to either beat New Jersey or lose beyond regulation to stay in playoff contention. They did neither, allowing three New Jersey goals in the third period en route to a 5-3 loss that ended their slim playoff hopes. The Bruins had their playoff graphic ready to go: THE POSTSEASON AWAITS 🙌 pic.

twitter. com/Hd110C9VIt — Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) April 11, 2026 While the B’s are officially in, there’s still plenty to be decided in the last few days of the regular season. The Bruins and Ottawa will go back-and-forth over the first and second wild card spot, with Ottawa currently in WC1 via the regulation wins tiebreaker.

Both the Bruins and Senators have two games left: Bruins: at Columbus, vs. New Jersey Ottawa: at New Jersey, vs. Toronto The Bruins will be playing out their string Sunday and Tuesday, while the Senators will be playing tomorrow and Wednesday.