Kastelic scores 2, Swayman posts shutout as Bruins stop Devils 4-0 to clinch East's top wild card

BOSTON (AP) — Mark Kastelic scored twice in the first period, Jeremy Swayman earned his second shutout of the season and the Boston Bruins clinched the top wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with a 4-0 win over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night.

Boston needed a win to lock up the top wild-card position. The Bruins will face the Atlantic Division champion Buffalo Sabres in the first round of the NHL playoffs.

Ten Boston players recorded points in the game. Sean Kuraly had a pair of assists and David Pastrnak reached 100 points for the fourth straight season with an assist on one of the Bruins’ four goals in the first.

Morgan Geekie and Viktor Arvidsson also scored for Boston, which finished the regular season under first-year coach Marco Sturm at 45-27-10 and returned to the playoffs one year after tying for the worst record in the Eastern Conference at 33-39-10.

After congratulating Swayman, the Bruins gathered at center ice and raised their sticks to salute their fans.

New Jersey goalie Nico Daws allowed four goals on 12 shots in the opening period before getting some stronger defensive support the rest of the way. Daws finished with 23 saves.

Swayman stopped 21 shots for his first shutout since a 3-0 win over Detroit on Jan. 13 and the 18th of his career.

Boston got goals in the opening and closing minutes of the first and took firm command with a 4-0 lead after one period.

Geekie scored 53 seconds in and Arvidsson scored his 25th of the season with just 6.4 seconds left in the period. In between, Kastelic scored twice and the Bruins cruised the rest of the way against the lottery-bound Devils, who finished 42-37-3.

Pastrnak needed one more goal to reach 30 for the ninth time, which would have been a first in franchise history.

Devils: Done for the season.

Bruins: Visit Buffalo in the first round of the playoffs.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

New Jersey Devils left wing Paul Cotter (47) is surrounded by Boston Bruins players while trying to shoot during the first period of a hockey game, Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman (1) makes a save on a shot by New Jersey Devils left wing Paul Cotter (47) during the first period of a hockey game, Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

New Jersey Devils goaltender Nico Daws (50) fails to make a save on a shot by Boston Bruins center Mark Kastelic during the first period of a hockey game, Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Bruins left wing Viktor Arvidsson (71) scores on New Jersey Devils goaltender Nico Daws (50) during the first period of a hockey game, Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy (73) and New Jersey Devils left wing Paul Cotter (47) battle for the puck during the second period of a hockey game, Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Dennis Bouanga scored a late penalty to help LAFC draw 1-1 with defending champion Cruz Azul on Tuesday and advance to the CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinals.

Gabriel Fernandez converted a penalty kick in the 18th to put the home team ahead, but Bouanga equalized with a right-foot shot from the spot deep in stoppage time.

LAFC, which won the first leg 3-0 with two goals from David Martinez, will play the winner of the series between Toluca FC and LA Galaxy.

“I know we eliminated a great club, a great champion, and a team that gave us a lot of trouble. Qualifying was tough,” LAFC coach Marc Dos Santos said. “Now there are no favorites. Everyone who makes it to the semifinals is strong.”

Former Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris finished the match with eight saves for LAFC, which is aiming for its third final in the tournament after losing in the championship deciders in 2020 and 2023.

The eight saves from the 39-year-old Frenchman were the most in his 102 matches with the LAFC in all competitions.

Cruz Azul finished the match with 10 men after Gonzalo Piovi was sent off in the 90th minute after tackling Bouanga.

“Today we had 31 shots, we faced a world champion goalkeeper who prevented us from having a great night,” Cruz Azul coach Nicolas Larcamon said.

The Mexican club, a seven-time Champions Cup winner, was aiming to emulate Club América, the last team to clinch back-to-back titles in the 2014-15 and 2015-16.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Son Heung-Min, right, congrats Denis Bouanga of the United States' Los Angeles FC after scoring his side's first goal against Mexico's Cruz Azul during a CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal second leg soccer match in Puebla, Mexico, Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

Denis Bouanga of the United States' Los Angeles FC celebrates scoring his side's first goal from the penalty spot against Mexico's Cruz Azul during a CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal second leg soccer match in Puebla, Mexico, Tuesday, April 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)