The Bruins are officially back in the playoffs!

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 17: Sam Reinhart #13 of the Florida Panthers skates against Charlie McAvoy #73 of the Boston Bruins in Game Six of the Second Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the TD Garden on May 17, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images

It’s not exactly the way you want to clinch a playoff spot, but you’ll take it!

After throwing away a point or two via a late regulation loss to Tampa Saturday afternoon, the Bruins officially clinched a playoff spot via a Detroit Red Wings loss later in the day.

The Red Wings, playing at home, needed to either beat New Jersey or lose beyond regulation to stay in playoff contention.

They did neither, allowing three New Jersey goals in the third period en route to a 5-3 loss that ended their slim playoff hopes.

The Bruins had their playoff graphic ready to go:

While the B’s are officially in, there’s still plenty to be decided in the last few days of the regular season.

The Bruins and Ottawa will go back-and-forth over the first and second wild card spot, with Ottawa currently in WC1 via the regulation wins tiebreaker.

Both the Bruins and Senators have two games left:

• Bruins: at Columbus, vs. New Jersey
• Ottawa: at New Jersey, vs. Toronto

The Bruins will be playing out their string Sunday and Tuesday, while the Senators will be playing tomorrow and Wednesday.

There’s also the not-so-small matter of who the B’s (and Senators) will be playing in the first round.

It’s likely that the second wild card team will be facing the Carolina Hurricanes, though there’s a chance they could flop in their last three games and let an Atlantic team catch them.

However, the second wild card is almost certainly beginning the playoffs in Raleigh, while WC1 will be facing a to-be-determined Atlantic team.

Interestingly enough, that could be any one of Buffalo, Montreal, or Tampa Bay at this point, with the three teams separated by two points (prior to Montreal’s Saturday night game, at least).

I don’t think there’s an easy out in the Atlantic, but I’d prefer to play one of those three teams instead of Carolina.

Regardless, the Bruins are officially back in the playoffs after a season away.

Their last postseason game was on May 17, 2o24, a 2-1 loss to the Florida Panthers at TD Garden.

Given where the Bruins were predicted to finish this season, making the playoffs is no small feat.

Once you’re in, anything can happen — right?