Lightning Defeat Bruins 3-1 After Clinching Playoff Spot

Tampa Bay secures victory just hours after securing postseason berth.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 1:49am

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The Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Boston Bruins 3-1 on Wednesday night, just hours after clinching a spot in the NHL playoffs. Darren Raddysh scored the go-ahead goal with 5:31 remaining in the game to lift the Lightning to the victory.

Why it matters

The win for the Lightning comes at a crucial time, as they look to build momentum heading into the postseason. The Bruins, meanwhile, are fighting to secure their own playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference.

The details

Raddysh's late goal broke a 1-1 tie and proved to be the difference-maker for the Lightning. Tampa Bay had secured their playoff spot earlier in the day, but were determined to keep their strong play going against their division rival Bruins.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, April 5, 2026.

The players

Darren Raddysh

A forward for the Tampa Bay Lightning who scored the game-winning goal.

Tampa Bay Lightning

The NHL team that defeated the Boston Bruins 3-1.

Boston Bruins

The NHL team that lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-1.

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What they’re saying

“We knew we had already clinched, but we wanted to keep our foot on the gas and show we're ready for the playoffs.”

— Darren Raddysh, Lightning Forward

What’s next

The Lightning will look to carry this momentum into the playoffs as they aim to make a deep postseason run. The Bruins, meanwhile, will continue to fight for positioning in the Eastern Conference standings.

The takeaway

The Lightning's victory over the Bruins demonstrates their ability to win big games even after clinching a playoff spot, a sign they could be a force to be reckoned with in the upcoming postseason.