Boston will dress its regulars Tuesday night when it hosts the New Jersey Devils in Game 82 of the regular season, with the Bruins still able to alter their playoff path before the Stanley Cup Playoffs begin.
The Bruins rested some key players on Sunday, but head coach Marco Sturm said after practice Monday that the expectation is to play most of the regulars. Boston enters the night at 44-27-10, and a win would clinch the top Wild Card spot and likely set up a first-round matchup with the Buffalo Sabres.
The importance of ending cleanly was clear in the dressing room. Sturm said it was important to get back to winning and feel good again, and said the mood around the team was different when the players came in Monday because they were happy and loud. He added that the club wants to go into the playoffs that way, because winning Tuesday would give Boston the best chance to start the postseason well.
The Bruins have already secured a playoff berth, but Tuesday still carries real weight because their final regular-season game has seeding implications. Boston will start the playoffs after the game, so the result against the Devils helps determine whether the opening round begins with the Bruins holding the top Wild Card position.
Pavel Zacha said the goal is simple: finish the year with a win and carry that into the playoffs on a streak. He said the mood is good after the big win Sunday and that the team needs to bring that same level again Tuesday before turning to the next step.
That is the edge in a game like this. The Bruins are no longer chasing a postseason place, but they are still chasing the shape of the bracket, and a strong finish at home would leave them with both momentum and a clearer road ahead.
