WILMINGTON — The Bruins recalled center Max Talbot from Providence on an emergency basis Wednesday, and with him came a fresh perspective on the mood and atmosphere in the locker room of a team at risk of collapsing before the playoffs for a second year in a row.

When Talbot was last in Boston, at the end of February, the Bruins were in a better place — in possession of a playoff spot, and on their way to a mid-March stint in first place in the Atlantic Division.

Now, Boston is 2-7-1 in its last 10 games and does not occupy a top-three position in the division or either of the two wild-card spots in the East. The Bruins are tied at 91 points with the Red Wings and Flyers, who both held playoff spots heading into their game against each other Wednesday night.

“When I left, it was trade deadline day. There was a lot of excitement about the trades [for John-Michael Liles and Lee Stempniak] and everything. The team was doing good,’’ Talbot said. “Right now, we all know it’s go time. It’s the last couple of games, and that makes it exciting.’’

Talbot’s positive spin was a theme among the Bruins on Wednesday, the only day between their shootout loss to Carolina and a critical game at home against Detroit on Thursday. The Bruins end the regular season Saturday against Ottawa at TD Garden.

What was different Wednesday — as opposed to any other point during this Bruins slump — was that the team’s fate is no longer in its own hands. It needs a couple of external results to fall its way, and games against the Red Wings and Senators are effectively, but not quite mathematically, must-wins.

Tuukka Rask called the situation “not ideal.’’

“That’s what we’ve dealt ourselves,’’ Matt Beleskey said. “We have to deal with it and hope for the best. Let the hockey gods do their work.’’

After 12 months since last season’s playoff miss and 80 games since October, Boston’s playoff destiny comes down to these final two games.

“Either way, we have to win our next two games,’’ Patrice Bergeron said. “There are no more chances here. This is our last chance. We have to seize it and go out there and do it.’’

Added Talbot: “There’s no time for these emotions or these words. It’s about acting.’’

Injury list

The Bruins practiced with three absences: defenseman Dennis Seidenberg, who has missed the past three games because of an injury, plus wingers Tyler Randell and Jimmy Hayes.

Coach Claude Julien said Randell and Hayes were out with unspecified injuries, which spurred Talbot’s recall.

Wing Brett Connolly, who also has missed the past three games, returned to practice, and struggling center Ryan Spooner (3 points in his past 12 games) moved to the wing on a line with David Krejci and Loui Eriksson.

“I haven’t played the wing in a couple months,’’ Spooner said. “It’s a little bit different, but I don’t mind it. I just want to help out. It doesn’t matter if they put me on the wing or at center.’’

Job to do

Julien’s job security has been a popular topic of conversation on the airwaves and in the comment sections of websites in recent days. The coach didn’t care to participate in such a discussion.

Asked how much he’d like to stay in Boston, he cut off the question.

“I’m not answering those questions,’’ Julien said. “Every year I get the same thing. I’m not even thinking about that.’’

Julien later noted, however, it’s important he coaches the same way in the final two games.

“There’s nothing magical about these kinds of things. It’s about how you prepare for those games,’’ Julien said. “The biggest thing right now is when you’ve gone through the stress we’ve been through, it’s not a positive thing. So somehow you need to create some enthusiasm. You have to try to create some positivity in the dressing room and create some energy in order to get out there and take care of the business you have to take care of.’’

A big number

There are more big-picture tasks at hand, of course, but Eriksson is on the cusp of a noteworthy personal milestone. He’s one goal away from 30 on the season, another step forward in his steady production hikes as a Bruin — from 10 goals in 2013-14 to 22 goals in 2014-15 to 29 (so far) this season.

For a team, the difference between an individual with 29 and 30 goals is just one tally. For Eriksson, an unrestricted free agent as season’s end, it can help change the perception of who he is, from a solid player with back-to-back seasons with 20-something goals to a 30-goal scorer.

“It’s always a nice milestone to get. So for sure, it’s pretty cool to score 30 goals. But right now I’d rather take wins,’’ Eriksson said. “It’s only one goal. Of course, maybe people look at it and see 30 goals, it looks better. Hopefully I can get it and we get the win. That would be the best scenario.’’

One more goal from Eriksson would give the Bruins three 30-goal scorers in a season for the first time since 2002-03. Brad Marchand (36) and Bergeron (32) already have reached the mark.

Tim Healey can be reached at timothy.healey@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @timbhealey.