The Boston Bruins are doing their best to sprint -- and not crawl -- into the playoffs.
Since firing coach Claude Julien on Feb. 7, the Bruins have gone 17-7-0 under interim coach Bruce Cassidy and are riding a five-game winning streak.
But their final three games of the season -- all at home at TD Garden -- are against formidable foes. Boston hosts the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday, the Ottawa Senators on Thursday and the Washington Capitals on Sunday.
The Bruins -- who have missed the playoffs the last two seasons -- Lightning and Senators are all still chasing a postseason berth, while the Capitals (with 122 points) have already clinched a spot and should win the Presidents' Trophy.