Boston Bruins Finally Clinch a Playoff Berth

The biggest win of 2009? I think, yes!

The Boston Bruins won in dominant fashion today at the TD Banknorth Garden against the New Jersey Devils, 4-1.

If anyone has read my pieces before, you may have become accustomed to me saying the Bruins need to play a “full 60-minutes.”  And if you had seen this game, well, you know they did.

Although the Bruins have been in first place in the Eastern Conference for some time now, they have certainly had their backs against the wall. Boston has 27 losses this season, yet 18 of those losses have come since Jan. 03, 2009, 36-games-played. That’s half the games in 2009 that the Bruins have lost. Half!

But the Black and Gold persevered today, winning their biggest game of the calendar 2009 year.

They clinched a playoff berth.

Since they have slipped out of the top-two overall in the NHL, they are still top dogs in the NHL’s Eastern Conference.

The Bruins entered the game today with a three point lead over the Devils. So what could have been a one-point differential, they made it five. Again, the biggest game of 2009.

The Bruins have clinched a playoff spot, what spot is still undetermined, but they have clinched it nonetheless. They are the first team in the East to do so.

The Devils are traveling tonight to Philadelphia to face the Flyers; a back-to-back road series.

The Flyers are in the midst of a two-game winning streak, all against the East. The Broad Street Bullies just beat the Pittsburgh Penguins, 3-1, earlier today.

Boston is off until Saturday, when they head to Toronto.

The new-look Maple Leafs are coming off a 5-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens tonight and are en route to face the third place Eastern Conference Washington Capitals on Tuesday, and the Buffalo Sabres on Friday, before facing the Bruins.

Take some time off, B’s, but let’s keep the momentum going for another 60-minutes.