After a couple of well-deserved days off following their impressive 4-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings, the Boston Bruins are gearing up for the first of a back-to-back showdown at the TD Garden against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Bruins are currently holding onto the first Eastern Conference wild-card spot, and they're set to face a Toronto team missing their star captain, Auston Matthews, who’s out for the season. The Leafs are already out of playoff contention, and if their draft pick lands outside the top 5, it could end up with Boston. This scenario means the Bruins could potentially snag two lottery picks if they also miss the postseason.
But let's not get ahead of ourselves-there’s plenty of hockey left in the 2025-26 season, starting with Tuesday night’s clash against Toronto. Right after, the Bruins will head to Western New York to take on the Buffalo Sabres, who are on a hot streak. Coach Marco Sturm has hinted at some lineup adjustments following an optional morning skate.
Bruins’ Strategic Lineup Shifts Against the Maple Leafs
Jeremy Swayman is set to guard the net against Toronto, a decision that doesn’t come as much of a surprise. Meanwhile, Joonas Korpisalo is expected to start against Buffalo on Wednesday. Defenseman Henri Jokiharju will be stepping in, with Andrew Peeke sitting this one out, and Tanner Jeannot’s participation will be a game-time decision due to an injury.
This matchup is crucial for the Bruins, especially with all their playoff rivals also hitting the ice on Tuesday night. Dropping this game, followed by a loss in Buffalo, could seriously damage their playoff aspirations. Simply put, the Bruins need to secure those two points tonight, as a few consecutive losses could put their postseason dreams in jeopardy before April even rolls around.