Bruins Seek Playoff Boost Against Flyers

Boston looks to strengthen wild-card position in late-season clash with Philadelphia

Apr. 5, 2026 at 6:10pm

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The Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers are both vying for playoff positioning in the tight Eastern Conference wild-card race. The Bruins currently sit atop the wild-card standings, while the Flyers are tied for the second and final wild-card spot. The two teams will meet on Sunday afternoon in a crucial late-season matchup.

Why it matters

This game has major implications for the Eastern Conference playoff picture, as both teams are fighting for a postseason berth. The Bruins are looking to strengthen their grip on a wild-card spot, while the Flyers are hoping to gain ground and potentially overtake Boston in the standings.

The details

The Bruins (43-26-8, 94 points) are coming off a 3-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday, while the Flyers (38-26-12, 88 points) are rested after a 4-1 road win over the New York Islanders on Friday. Boston has one of the top power-play units in the NHL but has struggled on the man advantage in its last two games. Philadelphia is led by rookie Alex Bump, who had a goal and an assist against the Islanders.

  • The Bruins and Flyers will meet on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
  • Boston is facing a challenging back-to-back after losing to Tampa Bay on Saturday.
  • Philadelphia had a day of rest heading into Sunday's matchup.

The players

Boston Bruins

An NHL team currently sitting atop the Eastern Conference wild-card standings with 94 points.

Philadelphia Flyers

An NHL team tied for the second and final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with 88 points.

Alex Bump

A rookie forward for the Philadelphia Flyers who had a goal and an assist in the team's recent win over the New York Islanders.

Travis Sanheim

A defenseman for the Philadelphia Flyers who also had a goal and an assist in the win over the Islanders.

Matvei Michkov

A player for the Philadelphia Flyers who recorded one goal and two assists in the win over the Islanders.

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What they’re saying

“It's awesome. It's the best time of the year, just trying to make the playoffs and just the playoff push. It's the best time of the year. It's fun hockey. It's kind of the situation you want to be in.”

— Alex Bump, Flyers Rookie

“Obviously, a lot of resilience from our team. (We've played) three in four, four in six. I just love the energy, especially early. It's a tough building to come into and they had a couple of days' rest. ... Everyone contributed tonight.”

— Rick Tocchet, Flyers Coach

“The guys played an unbelievable game today.”

— Dan Vladar, Flyers Goaltender

“We played a pretty good game. We really did.”

— Marco Sturm, Bruins Coach

“I thought we had a lot of positives for our group. Sometimes you don't get the results. Our team shouldn't be hanging their heads. A lot of great things came out of tonight's game and that's what we should be focused on.”

— Jeremy Swayman, Bruins Goaltender

What’s next

The Bruins and Flyers will meet again on Sunday, April 5, 2026, in a crucial late-season matchup that could have major implications for the Eastern Conference playoff race.

The takeaway

This game between the Bruins and Flyers is a high-stakes battle for playoff positioning in the tight Eastern Conference wild-card race. Both teams are desperate for a win, and the outcome could significantly impact their postseason aspirations.