Bruins Close Regular Season with Shutout Win, Playoff Matchup Set

Jeremy Swayman records shutout as Bruins secure top wild card spot in Eastern Conference

Apr. 15, 2026 at 4:10pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey game, with the players and action broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color representing the Bruins and Sabres teams.The Bruins and Sabres will renew their playoff rivalry in an artfully deconstructed first-round matchup.Boston Today

The Boston Bruins closed out the regular season with a 4-0 victory over the New Jersey Devils, led by a shutout performance from goaltender Jeremy Swayman. The win secured the Bruins' spot as the top wild card team in the Eastern Conference, setting up a first-round playoff matchup against the Buffalo Sabres.

Why it matters

The Bruins' strong finish to the season, including reaching the 100-point mark, positions them well heading into the playoffs. Their matchup against the Sabres, who are making their first postseason appearance since 2011, will be the first playoff meeting between the two teams since 2010.

The details

The Bruins scored all four of their goals in the first period, with David Pastrnak reaching the 100-point milestone on the season. Swayman finished the year with a 31-18-4 record, bouncing back after a tough stretch earlier in the campaign. The Bruins only took one penalty in the game, with Nikita Zadorov serving two minutes for a tripping infraction.

  • The Bruins closed out the regular season with their win over the Devils on April 15, 2026.
  • The Bruins and Sabres will meet in the first round of the 2026 NHL playoffs, their first postseason matchup since 2010.

The players

Jeremy Swayman

The Bruins' starting goaltender, who finished the regular season with a 31-18-4 record and recorded the shutout in the season finale.

David Pastrnak

The Bruins' star forward, who reached the 100-point mark on the season with his performance in the final game.

Nikita Zadorov

The Bruins' defenseman, who led the team in penalty minutes with 152 on the season.

Marco Sturm

The Bruins' assistant coach, who said the team was going back to their old power play units for the final game.

Fraser Minten

The recipient of the NESN 7th Player Award, given to the Bruins' unsung hero of the season.

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What they’re saying

“The Bruins hit the 100-point mark with their win over the Devils, and so did David Pastrnak.”

— Jack Studley, Author

What’s next

The Bruins will face the Buffalo Sabres in the first round of the 2026 NHL playoffs, with the series schedule still to be determined.

The takeaway

The Bruins' strong finish to the regular season, including a shutout win and a 100-point campaign for Pastrnak, has them well-positioned for a deep playoff run. Their matchup against the upstart Sabres will be an intriguing first-round clash between two teams with plenty of history.