Why a Bruins win on Tuesday could help more than just their playoff seed

TL;DR

A Bruins win on Tuesday against the Devils would secure the No. 1 wild card spot in the Eastern Conference and could also help them acquire Toronto's first-round draft pick. This victory is crucial for their playoff positioning and future draft strategy.

There are two reasons for the Bruins to want to win on Tuesday against the Devils at TD Garden. A victory would ensure one of the Bruins’ remaining attainable regular season goals and potentially help with the other.

For starters, a win would lock up the No. 1 wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. That would mean a first-round matchup with Buffalo, Montreal or Tampa Bay beginning this weekend on the road.

In reality, Boston might not care if it secures wild card No. 1 or 2. They might prefer to face Carolina, the Metropolitan Division champion who’ll face the No. 2 wild card.

But winning could help the Bruins secure Toronto’s first-round draft pick. As part of last year’s Brandon Carlo trade, Boston gets the Maple Leafs pick unless it’s in the top five. Heading into Tuesday’s action, Toronto was in the fifth spot. So the Bruins are rooting for a Leafs’ win.

BETTING: Bruins moneyline is listed at -135 for Tuesday’s matchup against the Devils on DraftKings. Our in-depth DraftKings Sportsbook review will show you how to navigate through their platform.

If Boston wins on Tuesday, Ottawa’s game against Toronto on Wednesday would be absolutely meaningless. The Senators would be locked into the No. 2 WC and have nothing to play for. They could rest their stars again and suit up Alexei Yashin and Radek Bonk and it wouldn’t affect the top of the standings at all.

But the bottom of the standings?

Could the tanking Leafs beat the resting Senators in a pillow fight for Ontario bragging rights? Who knows? But for the Bruins, it’s a scenario worth trying to create.