In a game that was filled with emotions, the Boston Bruins gave their fans something to cheer about, a clinched playoff berth. As the NHL regular season comes to a close, teams are jockeying for position in their respective conferences. As the Bruins fight for the top spot in the Eastern Conference, the Western Conference has a number of bubble teams like the Columbus Blue Jacketstrying to make one final push for the postseason.
The Bruins may have lost in a shootout, but that did not matter to the fans. The Buffalo Sabres completed a comeback on Wednesday night, beating the Bruins 3-2, but their gesture to the fans is what will leave the lasting impressions. Players from both teams gathered at center ice to chant, "We Are Boston." They showed a great deal of sportsmanship and respect in a time when everyone needed it.
Despite the loss, the Bruins clinched a playoff berth by gaining one point in the game. They are now tied in points with the Montreal Canadiens at the top of the Northeast Division. Both teams trail Eastern Conference leading Pittsburgh Penguins by nine points. The Bruins have one game in hand on the Canadiens and can still win the division by the time the regular season comes to a close in the coming week.
The Penguins continued their dominance with a 6-4 win over Montreal. Pittsburgh continues to work out their offense with the absence of Sidney Crosby. With his return still unknown, the Penguins are preparing to play the postseason without him. Brenden Morrow and Jarome Iginla have not even been with the team a month and they continue to play like they have spent their entire career with the team. Morrow knocked in two goals for the second straight time, helping the Penguins stay on top of the East.
Out in the West, the Columbus Blue Jackets edged out the Anaheim Ducks to hop back into the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Their overtime victory puts them further ahead of the Detroit Red Wings by two points and within one point of seventh place St. Louis. While the Ducks hve the Pacific Division almost wrapped up, Columbus has four games left to cement their spot in the postseason. They have three games left of a six-game road trip before they return home for their regular season finale against the Nashville Predators. Nashville was eliminated from playoff contention earlier in the week.
