Bruins become 2nd Eastern Conference club to clinch playoff berth

The Boston Bruins joined the Tampa Bay Lightning as the only Eastern Conference teams to thus far clinch a spot in the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Boston's berth came after it earned a single point in an overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday night.

The Bruins qualified for the postseason for the second straight year and for the ninth time in the last 11 years.

They earned their 100th point in the standings Wednesday night and improved to 45-17-10 through 72 contests. The Bruins sit second in the Atlantic Division behind the Lightning, who punched their ticket to the playoffs on Sunday night.

On Friday night, the league-leading Nashville Predators became the first team this season to secure a playoff spot.