The NHL-leading Bruins (49-8-5, 103 points) can become the fastest team to 50 wins in NHL history and have a chance to clinch a playoff spot when they square off with Connor McDavid and the Oilers (35-22-8, 78 points) on Hulu, ESPN+, Sportsnet and TVA Sports.
* Boston can clinch a playoff berth with a win against Edmonton and pending results from other games. Playing in their 63rd contest Thursday, the Bruins would secure their seventh consecutive trip to the Stanley Cup Playoffs and 76th all-time.
* Overall, 17 teams have clinched a playoff spot in fewer than 70 outings under an 82-game schedule (which was first introduced in 1995-96). That includes two clubs that secured a postseason berth in 63 games or less: the 1995-96 Red Wings (59 GP) and 1998-99 Stars (63 GP).
* McDavid and Leon Draisaitl were the first two players to hit 100 points last season and are on track to do so again in 2022-23 with the latter sitting four points shy (41-55-96 in 63 GP). It would be the second time in NHL history that the same teammates have been the first two players to 100 points in consecutive seasons - the only such instance to date was by Phil Esposito and Bobby Orr of the Bruins in 1973-74 and 1974-75.
* Draisaitl, with six goals and four power-play tallies in his past five road games (6-1-7 since Feb. 19), is tied for the most power-play goals in a single season among active players - his next such marker will be the most by any skater since 2005-06 (Ilya Kovalchuk: 27). McDavid, meanwhile, needs three power-play points to tie Sidney Crosby (61 in 2006-07 w/ PIT) for the most in a single season by any active player.
* Prior to the Bruins-Oilers showdown, we spotlight the various charities Boston forward Nick Foligno is involved with. A veteran of over 1,000 NHL games and a recipient of the King Clancy Memorial Trophy in 2016-17, Foligno has recorded 10-16-26 in 60 games this season but has missed time since Feb. 28 due to injury.
