How Bruins can clinch Atlantic Division title, best record in NHL, Eastern Conference

With less than four weeks left in the regular season, the playoff picture for the Bruins is coming into focus.

They’ve already clinched a spot in the playoffs and they can finish no worse than third in the Atlantic Division. They could clinch a division title by the end of the week.

Here’s what they’re chasing and how they clinch it over their last 13 games.

The Bruins can assure themselves of no worse than second in the Atlantic Division with:

1. A win over Ottawa

2. A Tampa loss in regulation to Montreal

3. An overtime loss against Ottawa and an overtime loss by Tampa against Montreal

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The Bruins have 53 wins. The NHL record is 62. The Bruins would need to win 9 of their last 13.

The Bruins’ have 111 points. The NHL record is 132. They need 21 points in 13 games to reach the record.

Format

The top three teams in each division make the playoffs and the two teams with the next best records in each conference will be wild cards completing the 16-team field. In the first round, the team with the best record in each conference faces the second wild card. The other division winner faces the first wild card. The second and third-place teams in each division face each other.

Eastern Conference

A1 Bruins vs. WC2 Penguins

M1 Hurricanes vs. WC1 New York Islanders

A2 Toronto vs. A3 Tampa Bay

M2 New Jersey vs. M3 New York Rangers

Western Conference

P1 Vegas vs. WC2 Winnipeg

C1 Dallas vs. WC1 Seattle

C2 Minnesota vs. C2 Colorado

P2 Los Angeles vs. P3 Edmonton

The Bruins are 53-11-5 for 111 points through 69 games. Only Toronto and Tampa Bay can still catch Boston. So the Bruins can finish no worse than third. It’s impossible for them to be a wild card.

Atlantic Division

......................GP—W-L-OT—Pts

x-Boston.........69—53-11-5—111

Toronto............69—42-18-9—93

Tampa Bay.......71—42-23-6—90

• Remaining games: 13
• Most points they could earn: 119
• Magic number for Bruins to finish ahead of Leafs: 9 points either earned by Boston or not earned by Toronto

• Remaining games: 11 games
• Most points they could earn: 112
• Magic number for Bruins to finish ahead of Lightning: 2 points either earned by Boston or not earned by Tampa

The Hurricanes and Devils are much closer to Boston in the race to face the second wild card in the first round. In fact, the Bruins, Hurricanes and Devils have the best three records in the NHL. The Rangers have a larger climb, but they could catch Boston too.

Eastern Conference

........................GP—W-L-OT—Pts

x-Boston.........69—53-11-5—111

Carolina..........68—45-15-8—98

New Jersey.....70—45-18-7—97

Toronto............69—42-18-9—93

N.Y. Rangers....70—41-19-10-92

Tampa Bay.......71—42-23-6—90

• Remaining games: 14 games
• Most points they could earn: 126
• Magic number for Bruins to finish ahead of Hurricanes: 16 points either earned by Boston or not earned by Carolina

• Remaining games: 12 games
• Most points they could earn: 121
• Magic number for Bruins to finish ahead of Devils: 11 points either earned by Boston or not earned by New Jersey

• Remaining games: 12 games
• Most points they could earn: 116
• Magic number for Bruins to finish ahead of Rangers: 6 points either earned by Boston or not earned by New York

In addition to Eastern Conference opponents, there are three western conference teams in reasonable striking distance:

NHL Presidents Trophy Race

........................GP—W-L-OT—Pts

x-Boston.........69—53-11-5—111

Carolina...........68—45-15-8—98

New Jersey......70—45-18-7—97

Toronto............69—42-18-9—93

Las Vegas.........70—43-21-6—92

N.Y. Rangers.....70—41-19-10-92

Los Angeles.....70—40-20-10-90

Tampa Bay........71—42-23-6—90

Dallas Stars......70—38-19-13-89

• Remaining games: 12 games
• Most points they could earn: 116
• Magic number for Bruins to finish ahead of Knights: 6 points either earned by Boston or not earned by Las Vegas

• Remaining games: 12 games
• Most points they could earn: 114
• Magic number for Bruins to finish ahead of Kings: 4 points either earned by Boston or not earned by Los Angeles

• Remaining games: 12 games
• Most points they could earn: 113
• Magic number for Bruins to finish ahead of Stars: 3 points either earned by Boston or not earned by Dallas.