Who would have thought the 2022-2023 Boston Bruins would have a historical record-setting season this year? The answer is no one but the Bruins themselves.

After losing in the first round of the playoffs last year in seven games to the Carolina Hurricanes, everybody thought this would be the end of the Bruins core. This was in addition to whether or not Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron would return for another season. The Bruins fired coach Bruce Cassidy when the season wrapped up. There were a lot of questions that needed to be answered by the team. 

In comes new coach Jim Montgomery who has lifted the Bruins to another level. As well as the return of forward David Krejci who re-signed with the team this offseason, after playing a year in the Czech Republic. Along with some other additions made in the offseason, the Bruins got off to a hot start this season.

In the first two months of the season, the Bruins went 19-3 and that was without a few key players such as forward Brad Marchand and defenseman Charlie McAvoy for the first month of the season. They would carry on this hot streak to set an NHL best in wins with 65 and points with 135. Solidifying themselves as one of the best regular season teams in history, they would earn the Presidents’ Trophy, which is given to the team with the most points during the regular season.

The main contributor to all of this success is how much depth the Bruins have. For years, the Bruins had only one scoring line that they depended on. The “Perfection Line” consisted of Bergeron, Marchand and star forward David Pastrnak. They would ride this coattail into the playoffs, but when they were neutralized by the opposition the goals dried up because of how reliant the team had become.

Currently, the Bruins have four strong forward lines. When you can put a 60-goalscorer in Pastrnak, a two-way forward in Marchand, and a former MVP in forward Taylor Hall on different lines it goes to show how truly deep the Bruins are.

The additions made at the trade deadline have made the Bruins even deeper. The Bruins acquired defensemen Dmitry Orlov and forward Garnet Hathaway from the Washington Capitals. As well as acquiring forward Tyler Bertuzzi from the Detroit Red Wings. 

These additions gave the Bruins that hard-hitting, grit and snarl they needed for the playoffs. Credit to Bruins general manager Don Sweeney for going three for three at the trade deadline.

Bertuzzi has linked up well with Pastrnak becoming a dual threat for teams to watch out for when they are on the ice. Listed at 5 foot 11 inches Orlov may seem small but plays big. His toughness has complimented McAvoy’s offensive game when the two are paired together. As well as giving Coach Montgomery the ability to put defenseman Hampus Lindholm, McAvoy, and Orlov on different defensive pairings, this shows how much depth the Bruins defense has.

“They kind of have an all-in approach with the moves that they’ve made and how they want to improve the group, and the depth they’ve added,” said Marchand about the moves made at the deadline. “It does fall within the group here now. They did their job, and we have to do ours now.”

If you haven’t gotten it by now, THE BRUINS ARE DEEP!

Additionally, it helps that the Bruins have the best goalie tandem in the league. Goalies Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman have been sensational for the Bruins this season. Ullmark is a lock to win the Vezina Trophy and became the seventh goalie to win the Triple Crown by leading goalies in wins, save percentage and goals against average. Together the duo are winners of the William M. Jennings Trophy which is given to the goalies who have given up the fewest goals in a season while playing a minimum of 25 games.

With a team like this and all the records they have set, there is only one thing that should be left on all their minds. To win the Stanley Cup.

For players like Bergeron and Krejci, this might be their last chance to win the Stanley Cup. Throughout this historical season, it seems like everyone on the team wants to win it all for their Captain. Bergeron has been to three Stanley Cup Finals but only won once, back in 2011. He deserves to win one more and this team deserves to give him that chance.

The quest for the Cup begins for the Bruins against the Florida Panthers. The Panthers got into the playoffs by being a wild card team. They are not any ordinary wild card team, as they underachieved this year after winning the Presidents’ Trophy last year.

Led by star forward Matthew Tkachuk, the Panthers are an offensive machine. They are all gas and no breaks, attempting the most shots per game in the league. It won’t be an easy one for the Bruins, along with the Presidents’ Trophy curse. Teams that have won the Presidents’  Trophy usually bow out in the first or second round. The last team to win both the Presidents’ Trophy and the Stanley Cup was the 2013 Chicago Blackhawks. Superstitious or not, Bruins fans should be nervous about facing the Panthers.

The series is currently tied at one a piece and the Bruins looked rattled in Game 2. They looked like a team that really misses their captain. Bergeron has been out the first two games of the series due to illness and a lingering injury in his upper body. After the catastrophic third period Wednesday night, when the Bruins gave up three even-strength goals, it looks as if they need their captain back badly.

If and when Bergeron makes his return, that should make the team more focused, prepared and determined to do whatever it takes to make this historical season even better. In the NHL playoffs, anything can happen, and the Bruins will be hoping that the Stanley Cup will be shipping up to Boston.