Why Bruins’ Taylor Hall wanted to get back to face a playoff-bound opponent

BOSTON — Most of all Taylor Hall just wanted to get back on the ice and into the Bruins’ lineup after missing 20 games over six weeks with a lower-body injury.

But as he got closer to his return, Hall was especially eager to play either Thursday against Toronto or Saturday against New Jersey. After those two games against possible future playoff opponents, the Bruins finish the season with three teams — Philadelphia, Washington, Montreal — who have been eliminated from the postseason. Hall wanted a playoff atmosphere and a motivated opponent to help get him ready for the postseason which begins April. 17.

He found that in the Devils. After Buffalo upset Carolina earlier in the day Saturday, New Jersey came in with a chance to move into first place in the Metropolitan Division if they could beat Boston at TD Garden.

“I wanted to play in either the Toronto game or this game, just to feel that little bit of playoff intensity,” Hall said. “Teams that are really looking for points and against a really good team. That was important. … To play a game like that where every shift mattered was great.”

Skating with Charlie Coyle and Trent Frederic on the third line, Hall played 12 minutes, 12 seconds of ice time over 19 shifts in the Bruins’ 2-1 win. He took four shots and felt good.

“That was a good game to get back and feel the speed of the game and feel the pace. I thought our line played pretty well,” said Hall, who was glad to be there when the Bruins’ tied the NHL record of 62 wins in a season. “Ultimately to get a win and tie the record is pretty cool to be a part of after going through the rehab process.”

He said it didn’t take long to feel back to normal.

“The first shift you’re a little bit wide-eyed, but you feel the pace of the game and you turn into a hockey player pretty quickly,” said Hall, who fed off the atmosphere in the building. “It was packed in there. It was a really good atmosphere right off the drop of the puck. … It was a really fun game to play.”

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