How the Boston Bruins can make the playoffs, with Tiebreakers

There are a lot of ways the last week of the season can play out. Here are the ways it can happen that lead to the Boston Bruins making the playoffs:

• Bruins beat Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday. This would put the Bruins at 94 points, and they have more regulation or overtime wins than anyone who can catch them. On Tuesday, it’s win and we’re in!

But after that, it gets a little complicated.

• Any 4 points: If the Bruins lose Tuesday, but win their games against Ottawa and Washington to finish out the season or go 1-0-2, they’re guaranteed in. Any 2 wins guarantees a spot.
• 3 points and Tampa loses one: If the Bruins can go 1-1-1, they’ll get in IF Tampa Bay loses a game down the stretch. That can even be an overtime loss. Tampa Bay plays us, Toronto, Buffalo, and Montreal.
• 2 points and Tampa loses one in regulation: If the Bruins can go 1-2-0 or 0-1-2, they’ll need Tampa Bay to lose one game in regulation, or two in overtime. Tampa going 3-1-0 or 2-0-2 would do it.
• 1 point and Tampa Bay and Islanders lose: This is where it starts to get dicey. The Bruins are still ahead, so they could theoretically back into the playoffs, just like they theoretically could have the last 2 years. The Bruins getting a single point could get passed by the New York Islanders winning out against the Nashville Predators, Carolina Hurricanes, New Jersey Devils, and the Ottawa Senators.
• 0 points and Tampa Bay and Carolina lose: This is much like the last bullet point, but Tampa Bay and New York each get an extra point of breathing room. As the Bruins have clinched the ROW tiebreaker against both teams, they’re sitting pretty in that respect.

It’ll be interesting down the stretch. Here’s a table of magic numbers and schedule down the stretch: