NHL playoff race: Bruins six points clear of Panthers after win

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Milan Lucic's third-period goal lifted the Bruins past the Panthers 3-2 Tuesday and helped Boston remain three points clear in the race for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.

The Bruins (39-25-13) also extended their lead over Florida (35-27-15) to six points. Boston has 91 points while Florida has 85. Each team has five games remaining.

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"That makes it even bigger, especially with a team trying to catch up to you," Lucic said of the win, according to The Associated Press.

"Obviously now we have to get some help. It's out of our hands a little bit, but hey — go home, win as many games as you can and see what happens," Florida coach Gerrard Gallant told reporters, per the AP. "We're going to keep working and battling hard. Until somebody says we can't make the playoffs then we're still there."

Boston didn't gain any more distance between itself and Ottawa, the team right behind them in the conference standings. The Senators (38-26-12) rallied for a 2-1 shootout win in Detroit (40-23-13) to remain three points back.

The Bruins did pick up ground on the Red Wings, however, and are now just two points back of Detroit for third place in the Atlantic Division.

The Western Conference had some drama of its own, as the Canucks beat the Predators 5-4 in a shootout. A loss by Vancouver (45-27-5) would have clinched the Pacific Division for the Ducks, who were idle.

"I thought the guys battled the whole night, and it looked like there were a lot of really, really good things out of this game," Canucks coach Willie Desjardins told reporters, according to the AP.

Anaheim (49-22-7) can clinch with a point at home against Edmonton on Wednesday.

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