The Bruins' Magic Number is 9

The Bruins have a magic number of 9 to clinch a playoff spot and 20 to clinch the division.

Games coming up:

71	Sat, Mar 19, 2011	@	Toronto Maple Leafs	.500
72	Tue, Mar 22, 2011	v	New Jersey Devils	.500
73	Thu, Mar 24, 2011	v	Montreal Canadiens	.599
74	Sat, Mar 26, 2011	v	New York Rangers	.549
75	Sun, Mar 27, 2011	@	Philadelphia Flyers	.671
76	Tue, Mar 29, 2011	v	Chicago Blackhawks	.592
77	Thu, Mar 31, 2011	v	Toronto Maple Leafs	.500
78	Sat, Apr 2, 2011	v	Atlanta Thrashers	.507
79	Mon, Apr 4, 2011	@	New York Rangers	.549
80	Wed, Apr 6, 2011	v	New York Islanders	.458
81	Sat, Apr 9, 2011	v	Ottawa Senators	.430
82	Sun, Apr 10, 2011	@	New Jersey Devils	.500

Seems simple enough, right? Right. A combined points percentage of .532 or so for upcoming opponents. Not bad but beatable.

Well except for the Devils x2, Flyers, Blackhawk, and maybe Rangers. I'm pretty sure they'll make it. It's time to bring up Horton and Campbell, who combined for 0 playoff games with Florida, and said this about it back in June when they came to the Bruins:

"I watched the playoffs pretty closely and it's not fun ending your season in April," Campbell said. "I follow it closely and you kind of get a taste of what it's like to play, but it's not close to being in one of those arenas."

"As a player, that's the best part of playing hockey, getting to the playoffs," Horton said. "You don't make them for seven years, it's too long and it can't happen. The Bruins organization [missing the playoffs] just doesn't happen and it's exciting for me to come and be a part of it.

(Both from Joe MacDonald's piece for ESPN back then.)

A quick look back over the last 2 years, the Bruins' 88 points are 11 points behind 08-09. With 2 more wins, the Bruins will pass last year's point total. They're on pace for over 100 points, to boot.

Anyhow, yeah, I'm looking forward to it. There's little better than live playoff hockey.

GO BRUINS!