Third Times A Charm? Bruins Look To Clinch Playoff Spot

Apr 2, 2013; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins center Rich Peverley (49) takes a shot while defended by Ottawa Senators defenseman Andre Benoit (61) during the second period at TD Banknorth Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

After failing to earn a point in the previous two games, the Boston Bruins will once again look to clinch a playoff spot on Monday night against the Ottawa Senators.

As inconsistently as the Bruins have been playing recently, they still have a great chance to not only secure a playoff spot, but also to grab the two seed in the Eastern Conference. The Bruins have seven games left to leap Montreal in the division standings and ultimately attain that second seed in the playoffs.

The Ottawa Senators sit at sixth place in the conference. After losing five games in a row, they quickly turned it around by winning two straight. They will have to keep that winning effort up as the season winds down to secure a spot in the playoffs.

This will be the fifth and final time that these two teams will play each other in the regular season. The Bruins have won the first four meetings and will look to sweep the season series on Monday night. Although the Bruins have won all four meetings, they have all been decided by one-goal. Both these teams play each other with great intensity and I would expect nothing less this time around from these two Northeast Division teams.

After playing three games in four days, the Bruins had the day off Sunday and will be back on the ice Monday for morning skate. Of the Bruins’ last seven games, five of them are home and four of them are against teams with losing records. There is no reason that Boston should not win those four games and give themselves a great opportunity to grab that second seed in the Eastern Conference.

Game time is set for 7:00 PM ET at TD Garden in Boston.