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The Bruins will play the Maple Leafs in the first round of the playoffs

These guys again?!

By Dan.Ryan
/ new
Toronto Maple Leafs fall to the Boston Bruins 4-1 Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images

It took until after Game 82, but we finally know who the Bruins will play in the first round in the playoffs!

It will be the A2 Bruins vs. the A3 Maple Leafs, a very unique first-round match-up that we haven’t seen in ages.

The Bruins fell to the second seed in the Atlantic by virtue of Tuesday’s loss to Ottawa and Florida’s win over those same Maple Leafs.

Neither the B’s nor the Leafs are exactly flying into the playoffs, with the Bruins losing two in a row to close out the year and the Leafs losing three in a row heading into their season finale on Wednesday.

The Bruins won all four games against the Leafs in the regular season:

  • 11/2: 3-2 shootout win at home
  • 12/2: 4-3 OT win in Toronto
  • 3/4: 4-1 win in Toronto
  • 3/7: 4-1 win at home

When are the playoffs going to start?

The playoffs will begin league-wide on Saturday, April 20.

One would assume, given the marquee TV match-up with Toronto, that Game 1 for the B’s will be on Saturday.

Again, with TV in mind, I’d assume it’ll be a night game, but I’ve been wrong before.

In addition, the Boston Celtics are currently slated to host Game 1 of their playoffs at TD Garden on Sunday, making it a near certainty that the Bruins will play Saturday.

Will the first round be broadcast on NESN?

Yes.

In addition to the national broadcasts that will likely be blacked out locally, NHL teams’ regional broadcast partners have rights to broadcast the first round.

Those rights usually go away once the first round ends, meaning Jack Edwards’ final Bruins broadcast will either be the Leafs eliminating the Bruins or the Bruins eliminating the Leafs.

Other than Bruins-Canadiens, Jack likely couldn’t ask for anything better.

What are the other Eastern Conference match-ups?

After the chaotic chase for the second wild card spot took until the very last minute, we have all of the East match-ups set:

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