Bruins Look to Clinch Playoff Spot Against Lightning

Boston aims to punch its ticket to the postseason with a win over Tampa Bay.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 2:05pm

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The Boston Bruins have a chance to clinch a playoff spot when they host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday afternoon. The Bruins have gone winless in their last four games, but a victory of any kind would secure their place in the playoffs. Tampa Bay has already secured its postseason position but has dropped three straight games. The Bruins will be looking to rookie forward Fabian Hagens to provide a spark, while the Lightning will rely on defenseman Darren Raddysh's franchise-record 22 goals.

Why it matters

The Bruins have exceeded expectations this season and a playoff berth would be a significant accomplishment. Meanwhile, the Lightning are looking to regain their form ahead of the postseason after a recent skid. This matchup between two of the Eastern Conference's top teams should provide an exciting preview of potential playoff action.

The details

The Bruins have gone 5-3-2 in their last 10 games, while the Lightning are 5-4-1 over the same stretch. Boston has the edge in team statistics, scoring more goals and allowing fewer than Tampa Bay. The Bruins also have a better power play and faceoff win percentage. However, the Lightning boast a dangerous defenseman in Darren Raddysh, who has set a franchise record with 22 goals this season.

  • The Bruins and Lightning will face off on Saturday, April 11, 2026 at 12:30 p.m.
  • After this game, the Bruins will round out the regular season with a Tuesday visit from the New Jersey Devils.

The players

Fabian Hagens

A 19-year-old rookie forward for the Boston Bruins who could provide a needed spark for the team.

Darren Raddysh

A defenseman for the Tampa Bay Lightning who has set a franchise record with 22 goals this season, the most ever by a Lightning blueliner.

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What they’re saying

“My job is to do the right thing for this team, but also I want to protect this kid. It's not fair sometimes, either to throw players in situations where they can't handle it or maybe they're not ready.”

— Bruce Sturm, Bruins Head Coach

“He just needs time to get used to our system. ... He's on the right track.”

— Bruce Sturm, Bruins Head Coach

“It's pure excitement. Walking in here right away, being able to meet everybody. These are guys that are role models for you, people that you look up to, and now you're sitting in a stall next to all of them. So, it's pretty surreal.”

— Fabian Hagens

“I feel like the energy was there, the legs were there, but it's a tough, tough road trip. I'm a little bit frustrated. We go home and we are still in an amazing spot that no one thought (we'd be in).”

— David Pastrnak, Bruins Forward

What’s next

The Bruins will have a chance to clinch a playoff spot with a win over the Lightning on Saturday. If they are successful, they will round out the regular season with a home game against the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday.

The takeaway

The Bruins have exceeded expectations this season and a playoff berth would be a significant accomplishment. However, they will need to overcome a recent winless streak and get a boost from young players like Fabian Hagens to clinch their spot. Meanwhile, the Lightning will look to regain their form ahead of the postseason, with defenseman Darren Raddysh leading the way.