![\"Boston](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/AP26101626228119.jpg\")
Boston Bruins center Casey Mittelstadt, right, and Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Emil Lilleberg chase the puck behind the Lightning net during the first period of an NHL game, Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo\/Robert F. Bukaty)<\/p>\nThe equation was easy for the Bruins. Beat the Tampa Bay Lightning and they would clinch a playoff spot.<\/p>\n
No dice on that front.<\/p>\n
But they got a little help from their friends and they backed into a playoff spot. With regulation losses by Detroit and the Islanders, the B\u2019s were able to qualify for the post-season after a one-year hiatus. The deal was sealed when the Red Wings lost three one-goal leads and then lost in regulation to the DNQ Devils.<\/p>\n
The news of the playoff berth no doubt took some sting out of what happened earlier in the day. The B\u2019s coughed up a third-period lead and then gave up a late goal to come away with nothing in a 2-1 loss to the Bolts at TD Garden on Saturday for their fifth straight loss (0-3-2).<\/p>\n
That completed the season sweep of the B\u2019s by the Lightning, who won all four games by one goal, including the last three when the Bruins took a lead into the third period.<\/p>\n
Quite simply, the Bolts are what the Bruins hope to become someday. The B\u2019s took the lead in the second period but, with their sticks tightening in the magnitude of the moment, they made more game-losing mistakes.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had them and when you get scored against, it felt a little bit different, a little more pressure, I would say,\u201d coach Marco Sturm said. \u201cI thought we were managing it OK. But it\u2019s a good team over there. Exactly what happened tonight happened in the past against them. Those little moments. If you just look at those two goals against, that hurts. We\u2019ve got to move on. Unfortunately, it cost us the game. But it\u2019s still in our control so that\u2019s good.\u201d<\/p>\n
The B\u2019s loss was not without its damage. The Senators, however, moved into the driver\u2019s seat for the first wild card with the win on Long Island. Both the Sens and the Bruins have 96 points but Ottawa holds the first tie-breaker in regulation wins.<\/p>\n
Whatever happened elsewhere did not change the fact that the B\u2019s are not closing out this season like they want to.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are in a good spot that we put ourselves in the whole year. But at the same time, we lost five in a row. We have to get our game back. Time is ticking. Good news is we are back at it (Sunday),\u201d David Pastrnak said.<\/p>\n
With the game winding down, Casey Mittelstadt was stripped of the puck by Brayden Point along the boards, a spot where Mittelstadt has been so good this year. Point came out into the middle of the ice and, fighting off Mittelstadt\u2019s check, fired a shot that was tipped. That produced a rebound for Emil Lilleberg to tuck it past Swayman (22 saves) for the 2-1 lead with 1:35 left in the third.<\/p>\n
With Swayman pulled for the extra skater, Brandon Hagel took an interference penalty with 33.6 seconds left in regulation. Boston had a great chance to tie it when Morgan Geekie, the lone Bruins\u2019 goal scorer, had a one-timer with a lot of net at which to shoot but it hit Viktor Arvidsson and they couldn\u2019t pull even.<\/p>\n
The first period was not what you\u2019d call high event. There were very few whistles in the whole 20 minutes.<\/p>\n
The Bolts had the best scoring chance when Yanni Gourde found Gage Goncalves all alone in the slot. Goncalves circled in front of Swayman and got the goalie down, but he ran out of ice and Swayman, on his belly, clamped down on Goncalves bank attempt.<\/p>\n
The B\u2019s first good chance came early in the second period. The fourth line won a couple of battles down low and the puck went out to a wide-open Andrew Peeke up at the right point. He took a few steps down and fired a shot that produced a big rebound off Andrei Vasilevskiy (19 saves). It went to Mark Kastelic on the left side but he could not get it past a sprawling Vasilevskiy.<\/p>\n
Boston Bruins center Casey Mittelstadt, right, and Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Emil Lilleberg chase the puck behind the Lightning net during the first period of an NHL game, Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo\/Robert F. Bukaty)<\/p>\n
The B\u2019s were starting to look a little tense. Arvidsson committed a terrible turnover in the defensive zone on which Swayman bailed him out.<\/p>\n