Bruins (46-18-15, 107 pts) @ Penguins (37-30-12, 86 pts)

3 Games to Go: Another huge night for the Penguins where there’s about a 50% swing for their playoff odds between a regulation win and a regulation loss:

A regulation or OT win would see Pittsburgh’s playoff percentages jump all the way up to 78%, while a regulation loss would plummet to around 35%. Pittsburgh’s edge with Regulation Wins tiebreaker remains significant where gaining even a point in an Overtime or shootout loss would keep Pittsburgh’s playoff odds above 60% with two games to go.

For the Bruins there’s also a lot on the line for playoff seeding. Boston is three points behind the New York Rangers for home-ice throughout the playoffs with a game in hand. The Division Race between the Bruins and Panthers (106 pts) is also neck and neck. Boston, though, has a game in hand and would clinch the Atlantic Division with a win in Pittsburgh and a regulation loss by the Panthers tonight against Buffalo. Florida has a big edge over the Bruins in regulation wins, Florida 41, Boston 35, in the event the two teams would end the season tied in points:

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Big Day for Playoff Ramifications:

First on the Docket is Islanders – Rangers @ 12:30 PM. Trailing the Islanders by three points, Pittsburgh has to gain a point on the Islanders over the next two games to still be in contention for third place in the division when the two teams meet in Long Island on the season finale. Meanwhile for the Rangers (110 pts), the Carolina Hurricanes (109 pts) are right on their tail for first place in the Metro and the Presidents Trophy. The two are separated by one point and each have two games remaining. In the event Pittsburgh held on to the second wild card spot, you’d much rather see the Rangers in Round 1, than Carolina.

5:00 PM Matchups: Lightning @ Capitals | Devils @ Flyers | Washington would move back into a playoff spot with a win and a Pittsburgh loss in regulation. A Capitals Regulation Win & a Pittsburgh loss would also see the Capitals move just one Regulation Win behind Pittsburgh with two games to go for those keeping an eye on tiebreaker scenarios. Philadelphia with just two games remaining has to win out and get help. There is a scenario where the Flyers would move back into a playoff spot by night’s end if everything broke their way tonight. By puck drop tonight, the Penguins are going to know where things stand for three of the four games they’ll be keeping an eye on.

7:00 PM Red Wings @ Leafs | Moneypuck has the Red Wings playoff odds dropping all the way to 4% if they lose in regulation tonight. They will turn to James Reimer in goal who last played in a 4-0 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on March 28th.

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Penguins Lineup Buzz

Alex Nedeljkovic (17-6-7, 2.89 GAA, .904 SV%_ will continue his career long stretch of starts, making his 11th straight start tonight vs the Boston Bruins. This will now be 12 straight appearances in a 22-day span. Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan has downplayed that Nedeljkovic could be showing signs of being tired To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!

  • For Pittsburgh one thing they’ve done very well in the previous two meetings was the ability to drive play 5 vs 5. Pittsburgh is +33 in shot attempts against Boston this year at 5 vs 5.

~Linus Ullmark (21-9-7, 2.55 GAA, .917 SV%) goes for the Bruins Tonight. Ullmark third in the NHL in saves percentage, has allowed 3 goals or less in eight straight starts. He stopped 38 of 39 shots in Boston’s 5-1 win over the Penguins last month.

Injury Buzz: The Penguins expect Noel Acciari and Ryan Graves to be ready for the playoffs if they make it. Would Graves jump right back into the lineup? That is unclear but Coaches have plans to reinsert Acciari back into the lineup as soon as he is cleared. He’s getting close.[/hide]

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