Devils Look to Clinch Playoff Spot vs. Bruins | PREVIEW

NEW JERSEY DEVILS (31-38-9) vs. BOSTON BRUINS (41-29-7)

New Jersey host the Boston Bruins at Prudential Center on Tuesday night.

You can watch on MSG or listen on the Devils Hockey Network.

Read below for your game preview and pre-game story below. Tonight's game is presented by Ott, Shore & Co.

MORNING SKATE RECAP

NEWARK, NJ - The equation is pretty simple for New Jersey: earn two (or even one!) points against the Boston Bruins tonight, and X marks the spot next to their names in the standings, and their ticket is booked to the postseason.

"We’ve put ourselves in a position to be one of those teams that can clinch a spot," Sheldon Keefe said on Tuesday morning. "We like that; that is absolutely the standard. It’s something to build upon. You can’t be a consistent playoff participant until you get there once."

The Devils will roll with the same lineup that posted a 4-0 victory over the Rangers earlier this week and while the team hold only an optional skate, missing from the group was Jacob Markstrom, likely indicating that he will be the starter tonight.

On a three-game win streak, the Devils have an opportunity to win a fourth straight, something they have not done yet this season. At times, you’re looking to pin a narrative on a game, and this one certainly has one. A fourth straight win and an opportunity to clinch.

Not bad.

“As you go through the season and the schedule, you’re always kind of looking for a narrative to attach to it, something to embrace for the day," Keefe added. "It’s something for us. We’ve earned the opportunity through 77 games to be in a position here to clinch a playoff position. We want to win every single game and we have a game here today that just so happens there’s a reward for us that, something that we’ve been working towards.”

Based on Boston's morning skate, goaltender Jeremy Swayman will get the start in net.

THE SCOOP

With one point tonight against the Bruins, the New Jersey Devils can clinch a spot in the postseason.

The Devils are riding a three-game win streak and look to string together their fourth consecutive win when they host the Bruins. New Jersey has yet to win four straight this season.

Captain Nico Hischier has been an offensive stalwart for the club, scoring seventeen points in his past twelve games, including a hat trick and two three-point nights. Jacob Markstrom is coming off a shutout performance against the New York Rangers, turning aside every shot he faced in the two games between the rivals at Prudential Center this season.

The Devils have had a lighter schedule of late, after a very busy March of 16 games in 31 days. To start April, the team has played just two games since last Monday, a win over Minnesota and another against the Rangers.

Tuesday night will mark the second meeting between the two clubs, a first since Boston's Justin Brazeau collided with Markstrom, who suffered an MCL injury that kept him out nearly six weeks.

The Boston Bruins will miss the playoffs for the first time since the 2015-16 NHL season, due to inconsistent results and a slow start to their season. This will be only the second time in 17 seasons that the playoffs will take place without them Bruins.

At the most recent trade deadline, the Bruins began to overhaul their roster, trading away their captain, Brad Marchand, to the Florida Panthers and Charlie Coyle to the Avalanche.

Remaining on the roster is David Pasternak, who is knocking on the door of another 100-point season and leads the Bruins with 40 goals. He's currently on a stretch of contributing to 11-straight goals scored by the Bruins, a franchise record. Former Devil Pavel Zacha is the third-leading scorer with Boston, contributing 45 points (14g-31a).

WHO’S HOT

Devils: Captain Nico Hischier is on an offensive tear to accompany all his other responsibilities. He's got seventeen points in his last twelve games.

Bruins: David Pastrnak is inching toward another 100-point season. He sits at 97 after a stretch of 12 points in his last five games played, including five goals and seven assists.

INJURIES

Devils: J.Hughes (shoulder, LTIR), Siegenthaler (undisclosed, LTIR), Hamilton (undisclosed, week-to-week),

Bruins: McAvoy (shoulder, IR), Kastelic (out)

REGULAR-SEASON RESULTS

• Jan. 22 vs. Boston, 5-1 W
• April 7 vs. Boston
• April 15 at Boston

GAME NOTES

• Hischier's goal against the Rangers was his 171st career goal, which passed Pat Verbeek for seventh all-time in franchise history.

• Luke Hughes enters Tuesday’s contest riding a three-game point streak. He missed the game on March 28, making his personal point streak stretch to four games (1g-6a).

• Paul Cotter’s 235 hits this season are the most all-time that a Devils player recorded in a single season since the stat began being tracked in 2005-06.

• Pastrnak has 13 points (6g-7a) on a six-game point streak and has factored in on 11 straight goals.