Daily Bean: Bruins Win, Crosby vs. Ovechkin x100, Islanders Eliminated

Q: How did the Bruins perform against the Blue Jackets?

The Bruins snapped their five-game losing streak by winning their third game against the Blue Jackets this season.

Q: What is at stake for the Bruins in their upcoming game against the Devils?

A win against the Devils will allow the Bruins to secure the first wildcard spot in the playoffs.

Q: What milestone did Crosby and Ovechkin reach in their recent game?

Crosby and Ovechkin faced off for the 100th time in their NHL careers during the recent game.

Q: What is the current playoff status of the Islanders?

The Islanders have been eliminated from playoff contention.

Daily Bean: Bruins Win, Crosby vs. Ovechkin x100, Islanders Eliminated

The Boston Bruins logo at center ice before an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

The Bruins snapped their five-game losing streak last night, picking up their third of three wins against the Blue Jackets this season.

They return home for an optional practice at the TD Garden on Monday, then a game against the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday. They sit in the first wildcard spot due to the Senators’ OT loss last night, and with a win tomorrow, the Bruins can lock in the first wildcard spot.

Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin faced off for the 100th time in their NHL careers yesterday, and it might be the last. That third spot in the Metro is still open, though, and Ovechkin has not commented on his plans for next season.

Elsewhere around the league, the Islanders were eliminated from playoff contention yesterday. They fell to the Canadiens 4-1 on home ice. They were not the only late-season collapse, though; the Red Wings were bounced on Saturday.

Also, the Avalanche are traveling without their head coach, and has Sergei Bobrovsky played his last game in Florida?

Happy Monday, catch up on Bruins and league news in today’s Daily Bean:

Boston Bruins

BRUINS WIN: The Boston Bruins (44-27-10) beat the Columbus Blue Jackets (40-29-12) 3-2 last night and snapped their five-game losing streak. James Hagens made his NHL debut, and did so by leading the team out of the tunnel.

BREAKING APART: The Bruins were without five regulars, but their depth stepped up. Sean Kuraly had a three-point night, and Mark Kastelic and Henri Jokiharju each had two points in the Bruins’ win. After the game, Marco Sturm had praise for all of them, and especially James Hagens.

NHL News & National Hockey Now

New Jersey Hockey Now: The Devils took to the ice on Sunday in their black “Jersey” jersey for the final time. They picked up a 4-3 overtime win over the Ottawa Senators. Nico Hischier scored twice, including the overtime-winner.

The Bruins are now ahead of the Senators in the wild card race.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The Penguins were in Washington, DC, for what could be the last meeting between Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin. The Penguins lost 3-0, which is big for the Capitals in their late-season push for the playoffs. Dan Kingerski has more from the nation’s capital.

Gino Hard (video via 𝕏): The Penguins wanted to honor Ovechkin, but he waved them off the ice.

Detroit Hockey Now: After the Red Wings were eliminated from the playoff push on Saturday, they were booed off the ice. It’s the fourth straight year that Detroit has suffered a collapse in March, but this one stings as they were at the top of the Eastern Conference on New Year’s Day.

NYI Hockey Now: The Islanders are out. They fell to the Canadiens 4-1 at UBS Arena yesterday. Another fall, as the Islanders sat in second place in the Metropolitan Division just seven games ago. The Canadiens scored three times in 55 seconds, which proved to be too much for the Islanders to handle.

STANDINGS (playoff odds per MoneyPuck):

Atlantic:

x – Sabres – 106 points, 2 games remaining, clinched
x – Canadiens – 106 points, 1 game remaining, clinched
x – Lightning – 104 points, 2 games remaining, clinched

Metropolitan:

y – Hurricanes – 110 points, 2 games remaining, division clinched
x – Penguins – 98 points, 1 game remaining, second place clinched
Flyers – 94 points, 2 games remaining, 80.5% odds
Capitals – 93 points, 1 game remaining, 13.3% odds
Blue Jackets – 92 points, 1 game remaining, 6.2% odds

Wild Card:

x – Bruins – 98 points, 1 game remaining, clinched
x – Senators – 97 points, 1 game remaining, clinched

IF THE PLAYOFFS STARTED TODAY:

Eastern Conference

A1 – Sabres vs. WC1 – Bruins
A2 – Canadiens vs. A3 – Lightning
M1 – Hurricanes vs. WC2 – Senators
M2 – Penguins vs. M3 – Flyers

Western Conference

C1 – Avalanche vs. WC2 – Kings
C2 – Stars vs. C3 – Wild (matchup confirmed)
P1 – Golden Knights vs. WC1 – Mammoth
P2 – Oilers vs. P3 – Ducks

Colorado Hockey Now: The Avalanche will be without head coach Jared Bednar for their final road trip of the season. He was struck with a puck during the Avs game Saturday and taken to a local hospital; he will not require surgery. Dave Hakstol and Nolan Pratt will share coaching duties.

Florida Hockey Now: Sergei Bobrovsky is an unrestricted free agent in July. Both Bobrovsky and GM Bill Zito both want to keep the Russian netminder in Sunrise. But if not, his last home game was against the Bruins last week. George Richards has more.