What tonight means for the Boston Bruins' playoff race
The Boston Bruins are 7-2-0, 14 points with a magic number of 148 and a tragic number of 155 — holding Atlantic #1 — trying to stay ahead of Tampa Bay Lightning (next in Atlantic).
Tonight they visit Dallas Stars.
Nothing is decided for a playoff berth tonight.
Playoff berth
Nothing is decided for a playoff berth tonight.
The Boston Bruins can't clinch a playoff berth tonight — the magic number is 148 points, more than tonight's games can take off it. The earliest it could happen is 37 games from now.
The Boston Bruins can't be eliminated tonight; the tragic number is 155 and tonight's games can't bring it to zero.
Games that matter tonight
- Boston Bruins at Dallas Stars
- Tampa Bay Lightning at Vegas Golden Knights
- Carolina Hurricanes at Vancouver Canucks
- Los Angeles Kings at Washington Capitals
- Toronto Maple Leafs at Columbus Blue Jackets
4 other NHL games with a smaller bearing on this race were left out of the enumeration, so a path that depends on one of them isn't listed. Every path shown is a real guarantee.
Every combination of these results (0 in all) was checked with the same conservative math as the standings page, so each path listed is a mathematical guarantee — no tiebreaker assumptions in your favor. Want the result-by-result version? The rooting guide on the team page shows what each game does to the numbers.
Get Boston Bruins alerts
One email the moment the Boston Bruins clinch, are eliminated, or their magic number moves — plus the morning rooting guide if you want it. Free, in season only, unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently asked questions
How can the Boston Bruins clinch a playoff spot tonight?
The Boston Bruins can't clinch a playoff berth tonight — the magic number is 148 points, more than tonight's games can take off it. The earliest it could happen is 37 games from now.
Can the Boston Bruins be eliminated tonight?
The Boston Bruins can't be eliminated tonight; the tragic number is 155 and tonight's games can't bring it to zero.
What is the Boston Bruins magic number right now?
The Boston Bruins magic number is 148 and their tragic number is 155.
How are these scenarios calculated?
Every combination of results in the NHL games that bear on the race tonight is enumerated, and the magic and tragic numbers are recomputed in each one with the same conservative math as the standings page. The paths listed are the minimal sets of results that guarantee the outcome no matter how the other games end.