BRUINS BEGIN PLAYOFF PUSH

After a thrilling 3-2 overtime win over the Flyers on Saturday, and a slightly disappointing 2-1 shootout loss to Washington yesterday, the End Game for the Bruins' regular season has begun. The B's are in the middle of a maelstrom of teams jockeying for the 8th and final Eastern Conference playoff spot. Six teams are in contention for the last three playoff spots, and are all within 5 points of each other. Here's how the situation looks right now:

6. New York Rangers - 83 points - 10 games remaining
7. BOSTON BRUINS - 83 points - 9 games remaining
8. Philadelphia Flyers - 80 points - 9 games remaining
9. Buffalo Sabres - 79 points - 9 games remaining
10. Washington Capitals - 78 points - 9 games remaining
11. Florida Panthers - 78 points - 8 games remaining

Here is the remaining Bruins' schedule:

3/20 vs. Montreal
3/22 @ Montreal
3/25 @ Toronto
3/27 vs. Toronto
3/29 vs. Ottawa
3/30 @ Buffalo
4/2 @ New Jersey
4/4 @ Ottawa
4/5 vs. Buffalo

So that's a pair of games against the top team in the East (New Jersey), two games against a team the Bruins haven't beaten this year (Montreal), and two MASSIVE games against a surging Buffalo team that's on the playoff bubble. If the Bruins can get ten points in these games (remember, it's two for a win, one for a loss in OT), they'll probably make the playoffs.

The Bruins haven't made the Stanley Cup playoffs since 2003-04. They haven't advanced past the first round since 1999.

Sources:
NHL.com
BostonBruins.com