Bruins Have Fallen Further Behind Arch Rivals In Playoff Race originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Boston Bruins weren’t necessarily expected to be in the position they find themselves in with just six games left to play in the NHL regular season. After missing the playoffs for the first time this decade and firing their head coach, the 2025-26 season was seen as a potential rebuild year. But to the surprise of many hockey fans, the Bruins are heating up at the right time and primed to make a real playoff push.
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However, their longtime bitter rival, the Montreal Canadiens, is not making it easy on them.
The Bruins have won four of their last five, and six of their last eight since losing to the Canadiens on March 17. The Canadiens have taken it upon themselves to one-up Boston, becoming the winners of seven straight on Thursday night.
The Candiens currently hold the third and final playoff spot in the Atlantic Division, and their refusal to lose with 98 points on the season is keeping them in striking distance of the first-place spot.
The Bruins are on the outside looking in, sitting comfortably in the NHL playoff picture as the higher-ranked seed of the Eastern Conference wild card pool. They have 94 points on the year after dropping a tough one to the last-place Florida Panthers.
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The road does not get any easier for Boston, as all six of its final opponents have their sights set on a playoff berth.
They will be back in action on Saturday evening, continuing their Florida road trip with a game against the first-place Tampa Bay Lightning.
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