NHL insiders debate keys to record-setting Bruins season

The Boston Bruins set an NHL record for wins with their 63rd victory of the season Sunday against the Philadelphia Flyers. With two games remaining, the Bruins need just one more point to tie the record for most points in a season (132 by the 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens) and two to break it.

What has been the key to the Bruins’ amazing season? Can they finish off their record-breaking run with a Stanley Cup? Where do they rank among all-time great teams? Our reporters and analysts are here to answer those very questions:

Biggest key to the Bruins record setting season?

Ryan S. Clark, NHL reporter: Nearly every decision that has been made has worked. There are too many to list and there’s not enough space. But the Pavel Zacha trade is an example of maybe what has made the Bruins different. The New Jersey Devils needed to clear cap space in their attempt to get Johnny Gaudreau. So they traded Zacha to the Bruins. It’s a trade that has seen him set career highs across the board, strengthen their top-nine forward group, provide them with flexibility down the middle and helped whenever there have been injuries or the need to rest Patrice Bergeron or David Krejci. It has made Zacha the sort of player who can be used in several situations.

Arda Ocal, NHL analyst: Sometimes a change does wonders, so I’ll go with Jim Montgomery being the catalyst, putting the systems in place to let the players excel and succeed. It feels like every player on the team is rejuvenated, the depth is being deployed and utilized optimally and the vibes are immaculate in the locker room and around the team. The coach certainly has a role in that. Obviously at the end for the day the players are the ones that are getting it done on the ice, but the coach is bringing it all together and tweaking where necessary. Monty deserves a ton of credit and I’m sure the players would also say as much.

Kristen Shilton, NHL reporter: Boston’s unbelievable season can’t be boiled down to a single, successful factor. It’s been a perfect storm of basically everything going right. General manage Don Sweeney added the right pieces in Hampus Lindholm last season and then Zacha this offseason. David Pastrnak picked a contract year to have his best offensive showing ever. Linus Ullmark exploded into a Vezina Trophy-worthy goaltender. Bergeron and Krejci came back. Boston’s penalty kill has been outstanding. Jim Montgomery was the perfect voice to pull the most out of this group from behind the bench. It all mattered. It’s all been significant.

Prediction time: Do you think the Bruins will be able to finish it off and win the Stanley Cup?

Clark: Maybe. But those reasons have less to do with the Bruins and more to do with the circumstances around what they want to achieve. We know the statistics about the President’s Trophy winners and the Stanley Cup. We also remember what happened the last time we saw a team this good — the 2018-19 Tampa Bay Lightning — and how they were eliminated in the first round.

We also know that even though the Bruins are this good, it still did not stop the rest of the East from getting stronger at the deadline. And that’s not even taking into account the Florida Panthers, who look like they could take on anyone at the moment.

Ocal: If they play how they have in the regular season, yes. What happens if they get punched in the face in the playoffs? Will they bounce back or roll over? If they go down 2-0 in their first-round serie,s can they bounce back and win? If they do, they will seem unstoppable. That’s the big question everyone likely has.

Hard to bet against them in that regard given what they’ve done this year. They’ve certainly earned the benefit of the doubt.

Shilton: After watching Boston dominate the regular season, it feels silly to say “no.” Of course the Bruins should be a top contender to win the Stanley Cup. It’s just that the postseason is its own beast. The obstacles are different. It’s not about what you can do over months but over days. A couple bad games and you’re out of it.

The Bruins haven’t weathered much adversity this season; teams they face in the playoffs will have. Forget about the past track record of Presidents Trophy winners. Winning in the postseason often requires a certain level of desperation. If Boston can tap into some of that and show they’re a bit battle-scarred too, there’s a good chance they go all the way.

Where do the 2022-23 Bruins rank among all-time teams?

Clark: That may not be something we can answer until after the playoffs are over. Sure, there is a discussion to be had about the Bruins being an all-time regular-season team. That’s not even a question. But when it comes to all-time teams? It all depends upon what they do in the playoffs and whether or not they can win the Stanley Cup.

Ocal: Wysh and I did a ranking on The Drop, and we put them second behind the 96 Red Wings — I like that placement — we are witnessing history. The best part is, absolutely nobody predicted this. We were talking wild card for this team at the start of the season. Now we’re saying “all-time great.” Incredible.

Shilton: The great thing is, we’re still figuring this one out. When Tampa went 62-16-4 in 2018-19 we might have said after the regular season they were one of the best teams ever. And then the playoffs began. Boston is writing its history on a nightly basis and where they ultimately rank — up there with the great Red Wings’ and Edmonton Oilers’ teams of the 1980s and 90s? — is to be determined. It could be a disservice to Boston’s potential, even, to try and assess that now. Who knows what lies ahead for the Bruins?