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When Do The NHL Playoffs Start For The Bruins? Boston’s First-Round Timeline and Possible Playoff Matchup
TL;DR
The Boston Bruins have clinched a playoff spot as of April 11. Their first-round matchup and start date will depend on whether they finish as the first or second wild card in the Eastern Conference.
Boston Bruins
When Do The NHL Playoffs Start For The Bruins? Boston’s First-Round Timeline and Possible Playoff Matchup originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Bruins are officially back in the playoff mix, so now Boston fans can shift from “are they in?” to “who are they getting and when does it start?”
That part is finally settled: Boston clinched its postseason spot on Saturday, April 11, when Detroit lost to New Jersey later that night. What is not settled yet is whether the Bruins finish as the East’s first wild card or second wild card — and that matters a lot, because it changes the first-round opponent.
When do the NHL playoffs start for the Bruins?
The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs begin on Saturday, April 18. The league has not announced the exact Bruins Game 1 date or time yet, and Boston’s own playoff ticket release says the dates and times for playoff games will be determined once the final seeding is set.
BUY NOW: Be at the Garden to cheer on the Bruins in the playoffs with cheap tickets
So the simple answer for Bruins fans is this — playoff hockey starts April 18, and Boston’s series is most likely opening that weekend, either Saturday, April 18, or Sunday, April 19, once the NHL locks in the bracket and TV windows. That exact start date should come after the regular-season seeding picture is finalized.
Who could the Bruins face in the first round?
This is where it gets interesting.
Boston has clinched a playoff spot, but the Bruins are still in a race with Ottawa for wild-card positioning. NHL.com’s latest race update lists the Senators and Bruins tied at 96 points with two games remaining each. Boston’s last two regular-season games are April 12 at Columbus and April 14 vs. New Jersey. Ottawa’s are April 12 at New Jersey and April 15 vs. Toronto.
That means Boston can still finish in either wild-card spot:
- If the Bruins finish as WC1, they would face the Atlantic Division winner
- If the Bruins finish as WC2, they would face the Metropolitan Division winner
Right now, the most likely opponent depends on where Boston lands. Buffalo is in first place in the Atlantic, and Carolina is in first place in the Metro. An NHL playoff projection from Saturday showed Boston vs. Buffalo and Ottawa vs. Carolina if the playoffs had started then.
So, for Bruins fans, the easiest way to read it is this: Buffalo and Carolina are the two names to watch most closely right now. Boston’s own results — and Ottawa’s — will decide which path the Bruins get.
What dates should Bruins fans circle?
Here are the important ones:
- Sunday, April 12: Bruins at Blue Jackets
- Tuesday, April 14: Bruins vs. Devils
- Tuesday, April 15: Senators vs. Maple Leafs
- Saturday, April 18: Stanley Cup Playoffs begin
The big picture is pretty straightforward now. Boston is in. The Bruins just do not know their exact lane yet.
If they hold the better wild-card spot, Bruins fans should start thinking about an Atlantic matchup, with Buffalo the team most directly in view right now. If they slip into the second wild card, then Carolina becomes the likely problem. Either way, TD Garden postseason dates are coming — the only question left is who’s walking through the door first.
Q&A
When did the Boston Bruins clinch their playoff spot?
The Boston Bruins clinched their playoff spot on April 11.
What determines the Bruins' first-round playoff opponent?
The Bruins' first-round playoff opponent will be determined by whether they finish as the first or second wild card in the Eastern Conference.
What are the potential playoff matchups for the Bruins?
The potential playoff matchups for the Bruins will depend on their final standing as either the first or second wild card.
When do the NHL playoffs start for the Boston Bruins?
The exact start date for the NHL playoffs for the Boston Bruins will be announced after the regular season concludes and their final standing is determined.
