BOSTON — The Bruins still have things to clean up before the playoffs arrive, but at least now they know for sure that they are in.
The Bruins snapped a season-long three-game losing streak with a tense 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins at TD Garden on Saturday, getting first period goals from Trent Frederic and Erik Haula that held up through another tough second period and breath-holding time late in the third.
They went 0 for 2 on the power play (0 for 25 in their last seven games) and it felt at times like their 2-0 first period lead was going to completely disappear again, but they hung on late, surviving a 6-on-5 at the end of the game to clinch the postseason spot.