I just looked on NHL.com, looks like 1 game in hand, but that makes it potentially only a 2 pt lead.
If the playoffs started today, they'd draw Carolina. Not a great matchup, but what matchup would be good now? None I say.
If the B's win 7 of their remaining 11, only NJ would have a legit chance to capture 1ts overall in the conference, and they'd have to win 9 of 12 to tie the B's. Here's my wild ass guess what they do the rest of the way:
Kings W
Devils L
LEafs W
FLyers L
TB W
Sens W
Rangers L
Sens L
HAbs L
Sabres W
Islanders W
6-5 rest of the way. One extra win gets them that 7th W and makes it tough on Jersey.
The other side is, depending on who finishes 6,7,8, we might not want them to win the conference...although to not win it means they're probably playing like s***.