Bruins blank Devils, wrap up East's top wild card

Boston secures first Eastern Conference wild card spot with 4-0 win over New Jersey

Apr. 15, 2026 at 7:49am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey game in motion, with players and the puck represented as fragmented, overlapping shapes in shades of blue, green, and red.The Bruins' decisive victory over the Devils secures their return to the NHL playoffs, setting the stage for an intense first-round clash with the Sabres.Boston Today

The Boston Bruins secured the first Eastern Conference wild card spot with a 4-0 win over the visiting New Jersey Devils on Tuesday. Mark Kastelic scored two of Boston's four first-period goals, while Jeremy Swayman made 21 saves for the shutout. Morgan Geekie, Viktor Arvidsson, and David Pastrnak also found the back of the net for the Bruins, who will face the Atlantic Division champion Buffalo Sabres in the first round of the playoffs.

Why it matters

The Bruins' victory clinches their return to the NHL playoffs after missing out last season, setting up an intriguing first-round matchup with the Sabres. Boston's dominant first period and Swayman's strong goaltending performance were key factors in securing the top wild card spot in the East.

The details

The Bruins opened the scoring just 53 seconds into the game, with Pastrnak assisting Geekie's wrist-shot goal. Kastelic then scored twice in the first period, with Kuraly and Lohrei picking up assists. Arvidsson made it 4-0 late in the opening frame, tapping in a rebound pass from Kuraly. Swayman was solid throughout, making 10 of his 21 saves in the first period. New Jersey's Nico Daws stopped 22 shots in the loss.

  • The game was the regular-season finale for both teams, played on Tuesday, April 15, 2026.
  • The Bruins scored all four of their goals in the first period.

The players

Mark Kastelic

A forward for the Boston Bruins who scored two goals in the first period.

Jeremy Swayman

The Boston Bruins goaltender who made 21 saves for the shutout.

Morgan Geekie

A forward for the Boston Bruins who scored the opening goal in the first period.

Viktor Arvidsson

A forward for the Boston Bruins who scored the team's fourth goal in the first period.

David Pastrnak

A forward for the Boston Bruins who recorded an assist on the opening goal, securing his fourth consecutive 100-point season.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

The takeaway

The Bruins' dominant performance and return to the playoffs after missing out last season sets up an intriguing first-round matchup with the Atlantic Division champion Buffalo Sabres, as Boston looks to make a deep postseason run.