BHN Daily: It’s All Good Playoff Math For the Boston Bruins

With another win on Thursday night, 5-2, over the Buffalo Sabres and three of their remaining seven games against the Sabres and New Jersey Devils, the Boston Bruins are all but assured of one of the four playoff spots in the East Division. Both the Penguins and the Capitals clinched their playoff spots in the East Division on Thursday night, Pittsburgh with a win and the Capitals with a Rangers loss. So now just two spots remain for the Islanders, Bruins and Rangers with seven points separating the three hockey clubs.

Boston has a 96.1 percent chance of qualifying for the Stanley Cup playoffs while winning eight of their last 10 games coming out of the trade deadline. The Islanders are at 96.6 percent but hold a slim one-point lead over the hard-charging Boston Bruins with the B’s still holding one game in hand against an Isles crew that’s sputtered without Anders Lee.

The Rangers have a 7.4 percent chance of making the playoffs while limping to the finish line, but they do have two head-to-head games against the Bruins at the end of the season if they can manage to keep their flickering hopes alive until then. Either way, it looks like the Bruins have elevated their game sufficiently since the trade deadline to punch their postseason ticket and now it’s just a matter of time with the even-strength goals pouring in these days.

Now on to the BHN Puck Links:

*Charlie Coyle finally broke through and snapped a 28-game goal-scoring drought with the game-winner against the Sabres on Thursday night. (Boston Hockey Now)

*The Pittsburgh Penguins and the Washington Capitals both clinched playoff berths on Thursday night leaving the Bruins, Islanders and Rangers vying for the final two spots with the Blueshirts distantly fading. FOH (Friend of Haggs) Dan Kingerski has the details of Pittsburgh being playoff-bound. (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

*Washington Capitals cheap shot artist Tom Wilson has his own hamburger joint in Washington DC, and I expect the comments on this little discovery to be glorious.

So Tom Wilson has his own burger takeout place in Washington, DC and Shan is going to review it tonight 🍔

Let us know what you put on your burgers before we place our orders⬇️ pic.twitter.com/5X8nX6WOCR

— Slapshot Sweethearts (@SSweetheartsPod) April 30, 2021

*Scary stuff here in the details about prized Minnesota Wild prospect Marco Rossi and his bout with COVID-19. It’s a good thing he was shut down exactly when he was, apparently. It’s a reminder that COVID is nothing to brush off even for the young, healthy and strong. (The Athletic)

*The amount of crying coming from Vancouver right now about Alex Edler being forced to answer to Wayne Simmonds for a dangerous hit? It’s not a good look. Toughen up, Sons and Daughters of Vancouver!

Wayne Simmonds and Alex Edler drop the gloves early. 🥊 #NHLonSN pic.twitter.com/I3wHhDI8yt

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 29, 2021

*For something completely different: Apparently, Mila Kunis is not somebody you want to consult for financial investing advice. (Page Six)