The Boston Bruins need a win to move ahead of the Tampa Bay Lightning for first place overall in the Eastern Conference. The Florida Panthers will try their best to play spoiler for the state of Florida.
The stakes could not be higher for the Boston Bruins tonight. They hung around just behind the Tampa Bay Lightning all season long before trading the top spot for the last two weeks of the season. The Lightning hold the tie breaker and are a single point up on the Bruins, who look to avoid Toronto in the first round of the playoffs.
The Carolina Hurricanes did their part last night, holding the Lightning to one point in an overtime loss. The Bruins now look to complete the process and take over the first seed against a Panthers team that no longer has anything to play for.
Here’s how to watch the game:
Boston Bruins vs. Florida Panthers
Date: Sunday, April 8
Location: TD Garden, Boston
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: SN, SN360, NESN, NHLN, FS-F, NHL.TV
Live Stream: Watch live on Fubo TV. Sign up now for a free trial.
The Florida Panthers (94 points) put on an impressive push for a wild card position, but they fell just short of New Jersey (97 points) and Columbus (97 points) for the last spot in the playoffs. Regardless of what happens in this final game, they can take pride in the way they played the second half of the season.
The Boston Bruins are viewing this game as a playoff game. The road to the Stanley Cup is easier for them through New Jersey, a team they have owned this season, than it is through Toronto, a team that has played them tough all year. It would also benefit the Bruins to have the Maple Leafs and Lightning beat up on each other in the first round of the playoffs.
These two teams met recently and the game was as close to old-time hockey as we see these days. The Panthers will not go down without a fight tonight, perhaps literally.
Next: 10 reasons Stanley Cup Playoffs are better than NBA Playoffs
Enjoy this bonus Sunday night playoff game.