While the Boston Bruins have won 14 of their last 15 home games, holding onto one of the final Eastern Conference playoff spots will require an improved effort on the road.
The Bruins (38-23-8, 84 points) play seven of their final 12 games away from the comforts of TD Garden, including a massive one on tap Saturday night against the host Detroit Red Wings (38-23-8, 84 points). The teams’ fourth and final scheduled meeting will break their wild-card tie.
“I think we’re just going game by game,” Bruins defenseman Jonathan Aspirot said. “We’re trying not to think about (the playoffs) too much and just stick to our group and what we can control. We’ve got to win every game and have some fun doing it.”
Boston has a 4-5-7 road record since the Christmas break but earned points throughout a three-game trip (1-0-2) before returning home for a 6-1 win Thursday over the Winnipeg Jets.
Six Bruins skaters scored, David Pastrnak extended his point streak to eight games (five goals, seven assists) and Jeremy Swayman made 23 saves.
Coach Marco Sturm’s group got a boost from 23-year-old winger Lukas Reichel, who netted the eventual winner and added an assist in his Bruins debut after being recalled from the American Hockey League. Reichel skated on a line with Elias Lindholm and Morgan Geekie and played on the second power-play unit.
“They had a few good rushes just because of (Reichel’s speed and skill). They had some good breakouts, just because of it,” Sturm said of the newly formed line. “Offensively, he drives it. And I think that was the goal (of) bringing this guy in — so he can push them a little bit more forward.”
Detroit has earned back-to-back wins after a three-game skid, including a 3-1 decision Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens, who also have 84 points but hold the No. 3 position in the Atlantic Division.
Alex DeBrincat scored the late go-ahead goal and had two assists to lead the Wings through a three-goal third period. It was his second straight three-point game and extended his point streak to five (one goal, eight assists).
Andrew Copp closed out the victory with an empty-net goal in his return from a three-game injury absence (lower-body), while John Gibson (32 saves) had his busiest game since January.
“A playoff environment,” Detroit coach Todd McLellan said. “On the ice, there were a lot of competitive battles and emotion, but also off the ice, you could really feel it. … The energy that was in the building, you could feel it. It’s been there before, but this was heightened.”
It figures to be that type of game again on Saturday, as the two teams look to keep the points away from one another in the jam-packed standings.
“You see how close every team is in the East right now, so every win is big,” DeBrincat said. “And obviously, winning in regulation is that much better. A little bit of a four-point swing, and we got another big one on Saturday, so we’ll shift our focus to that.”
Detroit lost twice at Boston earlier this season but won 5-4 at home on Dec. 2.
