Report; NHL playoff standings: The night’s main matchup is Rangers vs. Bruins.

The NHL schedule features a really impressive array of games on Thursdays, as it always does. The Nashville Predators take on the Florida Panthers in an interconference matchup between two of the league’s hottest teams (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+/Hulu). There is also a game involving the New York Islanders and Detroit Red Wings (7 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+) that will significantly impact the Eastern Conference wild-card race.

The New York Rangers’ visit to TD Garden to play the Boston Bruins (7 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+) is the most anticipated game on the schedule. The Bruins are now atop the league standings, while both teams are leading their respective divisions.

So far in the season series, the Rangers have prevailed in both games—7–4 in Madison Square Garden on November 25 and 2-1 in extra time in Boston on December 16. In this game, we’ll witness a more playoff-ready version of both teams, but how likely is it that this will be the Eastern Conference finals matchup?

The East bracket will arrange itself as follows, according to Stathletes projections: A2 Panthers vs. A3 Toronto Maple Leafs; M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC1 Tampa Bay Lightning; M2 Rangers vs. M3 Philadelphia Flyers; A1 Bruins vs. WC2 Washington Capitals.

The Bruins have faced the Caps twice this season and have lost one of those games; still, let’s presume they can overcome Alex Ovechkin and company. With two games remaining on the schedule, the Rangers have defeated the Flyers in both of their previous meetings.

In anticipation of Round 2, the Bruins have already defeated Florida twice this season and swept the Maple Leafs this season (two more games to go). The Rangers have a 2-1 record versus the Canes (before Jake Guentzel and Eugeny Kuznetsov) and Lightning.

The Stanley Cup Final is determined by matches, but there’s a good likelihood that Thursday’s game will be played again as a best-of-7 in May.

It’s time to keep an eye on all the playoff races and the teams vying for a spot in the 2024 NHL draft lottery as we approach the latter stretch of the regular season.