Bruins Beat Red Wings in Eastern Conference Showdown

Swayman makes 41 saves as Boston moves ahead in wild-card race

Mar. 22, 2026 at 3:55pm

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The Boston Bruins defeated the Detroit Red Wings 4-2 in an Eastern Conference wild-card showdown on Saturday night. Defenseman Nikita Zadorov scored the go-ahead goal in the third period, while goaltender Jeremy Swayman made 41 saves to help the Bruins move two points ahead of the Red Wings for the first wild-card spot.

Why it matters

This was an important game in the race for the Eastern Conference wild-card playoff spots, with the Bruins and Red Wings battling for positioning. The win gives Boston a bit more breathing room as they try to secure a postseason berth.

The details

Zadorov's long wrist shot in the third period proved to be the game-winner for the Bruins. David Pastrnak, Elias Lindholm, and Marat Khusnutdinov also scored for Boston. Lucas Raymond and Alex DeBrincat scored for Detroit, but it wasn't enough as the Red Wings fell short.

  • The game was played on Saturday, March 22, 2026.
  • Zadorov's go-ahead goal came at 9:42 of the third period.
  • Khusnutdinov's empty-net goal was scored with 1:52 left in the game.

The players

Jeremy Swayman

The Boston Bruins' goaltender who made 41 saves in the win.

Nikita Zadorov

The Boston Bruins' defenseman who scored the game-winning goal in the third period.

Lucas Raymond

The Detroit Red Wings' forward who scored one of the team's two goals.

Alex DeBrincat

The Detroit Red Wings' forward who scored the other goal for the team.

John Gibson

The Detroit Red Wings' goaltender who made 23 saves in the loss.

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What they’re saying

“We must continue to play with the same intensity and focus if we want to secure a playoff spot.”

— Jeremy Swayman, Bruins Goaltender

“It's disappointing to come up short, but we'll regroup and get ready for our next game against Ottawa.”

— Lucas Raymond, Red Wings Forward

What’s next

The Bruins will host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night, while the Red Wings will host the Ottawa Senators on the same night.

The takeaway

This was a crucial win for the Bruins in their quest to secure a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The team's strong defensive effort, led by Swayman's 41 saves, was the difference-maker against a tough Red Wings squad.