How Bruins Can Clinch Stanley Cup Playoffs Spot Thursday originally appeared on NESN.
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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.