Tuesday night's regular-season finale against the New Jersey Devils is about more than just playoff positioning for the Boston Bruins. While securing a win at TD Garden would lock them into the No. 1 wild card spot in the East, the potential benefits extend far beyond their first-round opponent.

Clinching that top wild card is a clear objective, setting up a road series against Buffalo, Montreal, or Tampa Bay. However, the playoff matchup might be secondary to another prize on the line: a valuable future asset. Thanks to last year's Brandon Carlo trade, the Bruins are poised to receive Toronto's first-round draft pick—unless it lands in the top five.

This is where Tuesday's game gets strategically fascinating. Entering the night, the Maple Leafs sit precariously in that fifth spot. A Bruins victory would render Ottawa's season finale against Toronto meaningless, as the Senators would be locked into the No. 2 wild card. Ottawa could then rest key players, potentially gifting the Leafs an easier path to a win and pushing their draft pick out of the protected top-five range.

For Boston, beating New Jersey isn't just about securing their own playoff path; it's about manipulating the final standings to potentially secure a higher draft pick from a division rival. It’s a savvy, long-term play that adds a compelling layer of intrigue to what could have been a routine season finale. A win on Tuesday could pay dividends both this spring and for seasons to come.