Bruins Hold Off Wild in Crucial Playoff Battle

Boston maintains grip on wild-card spot with key win over Minnesota

Mar. 29, 2026 at 2:35am

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The Boston Bruins defeated the Minnesota Wild 5-1 in a crucial matchup between two teams fighting for playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference. The Bruins, led by a strong performance from their top line of Pavel Zacha, Viktor Arvidsson, and Casey Mittelstadt, were able to hold off a late push from the Wild and solidify their hold on the first wild-card spot.

Why it matters

This win was a significant one for the Bruins, as they continue to battle for a playoff spot in a tight Eastern Conference race. The Bruins have a challenging schedule down the stretch, making this victory all the more important as they look to secure their postseason berth.

The details

The Bruins' top line was the driving force behind the win, with Zacha scoring a goal and adding an assist, Arvidsson recording a goal and an assist, and Mittelstadt chipping in with three assists. The Bruins' defense also played a key role, limiting the Wild's scoring opportunities and allowing goaltender Linus Ullmark to make 32 saves.

  • The Bruins have gone 5-1-2 in their past 8 games.

The players

Pavel Zacha

A forward for the Boston Bruins who has 56 points this season, including a career-high 26 goals.

Viktor Arvidsson

A forward for the Boston Bruins who scored a goal and added an assist in the win over the Wild.

Casey Mittelstadt

A forward for the Boston Bruins who recorded three assists in the game against the Wild.

Linus Ullmark

The Bruins' goaltender who made 32 saves in the win over the Wild.

Don Sweeney

The general manager of the Boston Bruins who expressed confidence in the team's playoff chances.

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What they’re saying

“They've been a great line the whole year. Every time they are on, it makes it so much easier for the rest of the group to follow up. When they have nights like this, not many nights we come up short.”

— David Pastrnak, Bruins forward

“It's going to be a tough, tough stretch here, a lot of road games. We've got to buckle up.”

— Viktor Arvidsson, Bruins forward

What’s next

The Bruins have a challenging schedule down the stretch, with six road games in their last nine and six games against current playoff teams. They will need to maintain their focus and continue their strong play to secure a playoff spot.

The takeaway

The Bruins' win over the Wild was a crucial step in their push for the playoffs, as they continue to battle for a wild-card spot in the tight Eastern Conference race. The team's top line has been a driving force, and the Bruins will need to maintain their focus and intensity as they face a difficult schedule down the stretch.