Editing Boston Bruins (section)

==History==
{{further|History of the Boston Bruins}}
===Early years (1924–1942)===
In 1924, the NHL made the decision to expand to the United States.<ref>{{cite web |title=Legends of Hockey |url=http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/LegendsMember.jsp?mem=b196001&type=Builder&page=bio&list=ByName#photo |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013204102/http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/LegendsMember.jsp?mem=b196001&type=Builder&page=bio&list=ByName#photo |archive-date=October 13, 2014 |access-date=May 18, 2011}}</ref> The previous year in 1923, sports promoter [[Thomas Duggan]] received options on three NHL franchises for the United States, and sold one to [[Boston]] grocery magnate [[Charles Adams (ice hockey)|Charles Adams]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 19, 1924 |title=Six-Club League Favored |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aMAtAAAAIBAJ&dq=Thomas+Duggan+NHL+Boston&pg=PA16&article_id=6881,2430744 |access-date=May 21, 2024 |work=The Montreal Gazette |pages=16}}</ref> The team was one of the NHL's first expansion teams, and the first NHL team to be based in the United States. Adams' first act as owner was to hire [[Art Ross]], a former star player and innovator, as general manager.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=March 19, 1960 |title=Publicist explains origins of NHL team nick-names |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4bRUAAAAIBAJ&dq=Charles+Adams+hires+art+ross&pg=PA19&article_id=4873,3688528 |access-date=May 21, 2024 |work=The Leader-Post |pages=19}}</ref>

Ross came up with "Bruins" for a team nickname, a name for [[brown bear]]s used in classic folk tales. The team's nickname also went along with the team's original uniform colors of brown and yellow, which came from Adams' grocery chain, [[Finast|First National Stores]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite web|last1=Marrazza|first1=Dan|title=How NHL Teams Got Their Names|url=https://www.nhl.com/goldenknights/news/nhl-teams-getting-their-names/c-283742854|publisher=National Hockey League|access-date=January 18, 2018|date=June 14, 2016|archive-date=January 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119120119/https://www.nhl.com/goldenknights/news/nhl-teams-getting-their-names/c-283742854|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Eddie shore 1939.JPG|thumb|left|upright|[[Eddie Shore]] as a member of the Boston Bruins.]]
On December 1, 1924, the Bruins won the first ever NHL game played in the United States, hosting the [[Montreal Maroons]] at [[Boston Arena]], with [[Smokey Harris]] scoring the first-ever Bruins goal,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bruinslegends.blogspot.com/2011/06/smokey-harris.html |title=Smokey Harris |last=Pelletier |first=Joseph |date=June 2011 |website=bruinslegends.blogspot.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161125050601/http://bruinslegends.blogspot.com/2011/06/smokey-harris.html |archive-date=November 25, 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> spurring the Bruins to a 2–1 win.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fischler |first=Stan |date=November 30, 2022 |title=Bruins won first NHL game played in United States in 1924 |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/boston-bruins-won-first-nhl-game-played-in-united-states-in-1924/c-338181072?tid=335154694 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221227070806/https://www.nhl.com/news/boston-bruins-won-first-nhl-game-played-in-united-states-in-1924/c-338181072?tid=335154694 |archive-date=December 27, 2022 |access-date=December 27, 2022 |website=NHL.com}}</ref> This would be one of the few high points of the season, as the Bruins lost their next 11 games and only managed a 6–24–0 record, finishing in last place in its first season.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Stainkamp |first=Mike |date=August 4, 2010 |title=A Brief History: Boston Bruins |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/429706-a-brief-history-boston-bruins |access-date=May 11, 2024 |website=Bleacher Report}}</ref> The Bruins played three more seasons at the Arena, after which they became the main tenant of [[Boston Garden]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=395417|title=NHL hockey came to the U.S. on Dec. 1, 1924|publisher=National Hockey League|access-date=November 2, 2017|archive-date=November 7, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151107035136/http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=395417|url-status=live}}</ref> 

The Bruins improved in [[1925–26 NHL season|their second season]] to a winning 17–15–4 record, which originally held the record for the biggest single-season improvement in NHL history, and is now third.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Klein |first1=Jeff Z. |title=The Klein & Reif Hockey Compendium |last2=Reif |first2=Karl-Eric |date=1987 |publisher=McClelland & Stewart |isbn=978-0-7710-4529-5 |location=Toronto |page=63}}</ref> However, they missed out on the third and final playoff berth by one point to the expansion [[Pittsburgh Pirates (NHL)|Pittsburgh Pirates]].<ref>Standings: {{cite book |author=NHL Public Relations Department |title=The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book/2009 |publisher=National Hockey League |year=2008 |isbn=978-1-894801-14-0 |editor=Dave McCarthy |page=146 |display-editors=et al}}</ref>

In [[1926–27 NHL season|their third season]], Ross took advantage of the collapse of the [[Western Canada Hockey League|Western Hockey League]] (WHL) to purchase several western stars, including the team's first great star, [[Defenceman|defenseman]] [[Eddie Shore]]. With the Bruins, he would go on to become one of the greatest players in NHL history.<ref>{{cite book |last=Coleman |first=Charles L. |title=Trail of the Stanley Cup, Vol I. |date=1964 |publisher=National Hockey League |location=Sherbrooke, PQ |page=709}}</ref> Boston qualified for the then-expanded playoffs by a comfortable margin. In their first-ever playoff run, the Bruins reached the [[Stanley Cup Finals]] where they lost to the [[Ottawa Senators (original)|Ottawa Senators]] in the first Stanley Cup Finals between exclusively NHL teams.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Johnson |first1=Richard |title=The Bruins in Black and White, 1924–1966 |last2=Codagnone |first2=Brian |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |isbn=9780738534855 |publication-date=December 9, 2003 |pages=13}}</ref> The [[1927 Stanley Cup Finals|Stanley Cup]]-winning game for the Senators would see Bruins' [[Billy Coutu]] attack the referee, earning him a ban from the NHL for life, the only in league history.<ref>{{cite book |last=Vautour |first=Kevin |title=The Bruins Book |date=1997 |publisher=ECW Press |isbn=978-1-55022-334-7 |location=Toronto |page=42}}</ref>

[[File:Tiny Thompson.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Tiny Thompson]] was the goaltender for the Bruins from [[1928–29 NHL season|1928]] to [[1937–38 NHL season|1938]]. He helped the team win its first [[Stanley Cup]] in [[1929 Stanley Cup Finals|1929]].]]
The [[1928–29 NHL season|1928–29 season]] was the first played at Boston Garden. In 1929, the Bruins defeated the [[New York Rangers]] to win their first [[Stanley Cup]] in two games.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McClure |first=Steve |date=March 29, 2024 |title=Bruins' First Stanley Cup Clincher—March 29, 1929 |url=https://blackngoldhockey.com/2024/03/bruins-first-stanley-cup-clincher-march-29-1929/ |access-date=May 11, 2024 |website=Black N' Gold Hockey}}</ref> Standout players on the first championship team included Shore, [[Harry Oliver (ice hockey)|Harry Oliver]], [[Dit Clapper]], [[Dutch Gainor]] and [[goaltender]] [[Tiny Thompson]].

The season after that, [[1929–30 NHL season|1929–30]], the Bruins posted the best-ever regular season [[winning percentage]] in the NHL (.875, a record which still stands) because of a 38–5–1 record,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Molinari |first=Dave |date=April 6, 1973 |title=Illness Foiled Barasso |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6rFRAAAAIBAJ&dq=Boston+Bruins+.875+win+percentage&pg=PA34&article_id=6868,3172609 |access-date=May 10, 2024 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette}}</ref> and shattered numerous scoring records, but lost to the [[Montreal Canadiens]] in the [[1930 Stanley Cup Finals|Stanley Cup Finals]].

The 1930s Bruins teams included Shore, Thompson, Clapper, [[Babe Siebert]] and [[Cooney Weiland]]. The team led the league five times in the decade.<ref name=":1" /> In [[1938–39 NHL season|1939]], the team captured its second Stanley Cup. That year, Thompson was traded for [[rookie]] goaltender [[Frank Brimsek]]. Brimsek had an award-winning season, capturing the [[Vezina Trophy|Vezina]] and [[Calder Memorial Trophy|Calder Trophies]],<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 30, 1939 |title=Brimsek No. 1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wCI_AAAAIBAJ&dq=Brimsek+vezina+and+Calder+trophies&pg=PA30&article_id=5375,6773346 |access-date=May 11, 2024 |work=The Windsor Daily Star}}</ref> becoming the first rookie named to the NHL first All-Star team, and earning the nickname "Mr. Zero".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Frank Brimsek |url=http://history.vintagemnhockey.com/page/show/807236-frank-mr-zero-brimsek- |access-date=May 11, 2024 |website=Vintage Minnesota Hockey – History}}</ref> The team skating in front of Brimsek included [[Bill Cowley]], Shore, Clapper and "Sudden Death" [[Mel Hill]] (who scored three [[Overtime (ice hockey)|overtime]] goals in one playoff series), together with the "[[Kraut line]]" of [[Centre (ice hockey)|center]] [[Milt Schmidt]], [[Winger (ice hockey)|right winger]] [[Bobby Bauer]] and left winger [[Woody Dumart]].

In the [[1939–40 NHL season|1939–40 season]], Shore was traded to the struggling [[New York Americans]] for his final NHL season. In 1941, the Bruins won their [[1941 Stanley Cup Finals|third Stanley Cup]] after losing only eight games and finishing first in the regular season.<ref name=":1" /> It was their last Stanley Cup for 29 years. [[World War II]] affected the Bruins more than most teams; Brimsek and the "Krauts" all enlisted in the [[Royal Canadian Air Force]] following the 1941 Cup win, and lost the most productive years of their careers at war.<ref name="origins">{{cite news |last=Mills |first=Rych |date=August 11, 2017 |title=Flash from the Past / It started here: the Kraut Line's origins |url=https://www.therecord.com/living-story/7497550-flash-from-the-past-it-started-here-the-kraut-line-s-origins/ |access-date=May 11, 2024 |work=The Record}}</ref> Cowley, assisted by veteran player Clapper and [[Busher Jackson]], became the team's remaining star.

===Original Six era (1942–1967)===
The NHL had by [[1942–43 NHL season|1942]] been reduced, for the next 25 years, to the six teams that would come to be called the "[[Original Six]]".

In 1944, Bruins' [[Herb Cain]] set the then-NHL record for points in a season with 82.<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 21, 1944 |title=Boston's Herb Cain Wins Scoring Honors |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6XgtAAAAIBAJ&dq=Herb+Cain+82+points+record&pg=PA14&article_id=2902,3415045 |access-date=May 11, 2024 |work=The Montreal Gazette}}</ref> However, the Bruins did not make the playoffs that season.

The stars returned from World War II for the [[1945–46 NHL season|1945–46 season]], and Clapper led the team back to the [[1946 Stanley Cup Finals|Stanley Cup Finals]] as [[player-coach]]. He retired as a player after the next season, becoming the first player to play twenty NHL seasons. Brimsek proved to be not as good as he was before the war, and after 1946 the Bruins lost in the first playoff round three consecutive years. After Brimsek was traded to the Blackhawks, the only remaining quality young player was forward [[Johnny Peirson]].

During the [[1948–49 NHL season|1948–49 season]], the original form of the "spoked-B" logo, with a small number "24" to the left of the capital B signifying the calendar year in the 20th century in which the Bruins team first played, and a similarly small "49" to the right of the "B",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportslogos.net/logo.php?id=6515|title=Boston Bruins Anniversary Logo|website=[[SportsLogos.net]]|date=September 12, 2014|access-date=May 13, 2009|archive-date=December 11, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211235722/http://www.sportslogos.net/logo.php?id=6515|url-status=live}}</ref> appeared on their home uniforms. The following season, the logo was modified into the basic "spoked-B" form that was to be used thereafter.

[[File:Walter A. Brown, Boston Celtics, 1960.jpg|thumb|upright|left|In 1951, [[Walter A. Brown]] purchased the Boston Bruins from [[Weston Adams]].]]
The 1950s began with Charles Adams' son [[Weston Adams|Weston]] facing financial trouble. He was forced to accept a buyout offer from [[Walter A. Brown]], the owner of the [[Boston Celtics]] and the Garden, in 1951.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 13, 1955 |title=Garden Re-elects Brown; to Buy All Bruin Stock |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J4djAAAAIBAJ&dq=walter+a.+brown+buys+bruins&pg=PA23&article_id=5461,931457 |access-date=May 11, 2024 |work=The Telegraph}}</ref> Although there were some instances of success (such as making the Stanley Cup Finals in [[1952–53 NHL season|1953]], [[1956–57 NHL season|1957]], and [[1957–58 NHL season|1958]], only to lose to the [[Montreal Canadiens]] each time), the Bruins mustered only four winning seasons between 1947 and 1967. They missed the playoffs eight consecutive years (1960 to 1967).

On January 18, 1958, the first-ever black NHL player, [[Willie O'Ree]], stepped onto the ice for the Bruins. He played in 45 games for the Bruins over the [[1957–58 NHL season|1957–58]] and [[1960–61 NHL season|1960–61]] seasons. The "Uke Line"—named for the [[Ukrainians|Ukrainian]] heritage of [[Johnny Bucyk]], [[Vic Stasiuk]], and [[Bronco Horvath]] – came to Boston in 1957 and enjoyed four productive offensive seasons, heralding, along with scoring stalwarts [[Don McKenney]] and [[Fleming Mackell]], the successful era of the late 1950s. There followed a long and difficult reconstruction period in the early to mid-1960s.

===Expansion and the Big Bad Bruins (1967–1979)===
Weston Adams repurchased the Bruins in 1964 after Brown's death. Adams signed future superstar defenseman [[Bobby Orr]], who entered the league in [[1966–67 NHL season|1966]]. Orr was that season's winner of the [[Calder Memorial Trophy]] for Rookie of the Year and named to the second NHL All-Star Team. Despite Orr's stellar rookie season, the Bruins would miss the playoffs. 

The next season, Boston made the playoffs for the first of 29 consecutive seasons, an all-time record. The Bruins then obtained forwards [[Phil Esposito]], [[Ken Hodge]] and [[Fred Stanfield]] from [[Chicago]] in a deal celebrated as one of the most one-sided in hockey history. Hodge and Stanfield became key elements of the Bruins' success, and Esposito, who centered a line with Hodge and [[Wayne Cashman]], became the league's top goal scorer and the first NHL player to break the 100-point mark, setting many goal- and point-scoring records. With other stars like forwards Bucyk, [[John McKenzie (hockey player)|John McKenzie]], [[Derek Sanderson]], and Hodge, defenders like [[Dallas Smith (ice hockey)|Dallas Smith]] and goaltender [[Gerry Cheevers]], the "Big Bad Bruins" became one of the league's top teams from the late 1960s into the 1980s.

In [[1969–70 NHL season|1970]], a 29-year Stanley Cup drought came to an end in Boston, as the Bruins defeated the [[St. Louis Blues]] in four games in the [[1970 Stanley Cup Finals]]. Orr scored the game-winning goal in overtime to clinch the Stanley Cup. The same season was Orr's most awarded—the third of eight consecutive years he won the [[James Norris Memorial Trophy]] as the top defenseman in the NHL—and he won the [[Art Ross Trophy]], the [[Conn Smythe Trophy]] and the [[Hart Memorial Trophy]], the only player to ever win four major awards in the same season.

While Sinden temporarily retired from ice hockey before the [[1970–71 NHL season|1970–71 season]] to enter business (he was replaced by ex-Bruins and Canadiens defenseman [[Tom Johnson (ice hockey)|Tom Johnson]]), the Bruins set dozens of offensive scoring records: they had seven of the league's top ten scorers—a feat not achieved before or since—set the record for wins in a season, and in a league that had never seen a 100-point scorer before the [[1968–69 NHL season|1968–69 season]], the Bruins had four that year. All four (Orr, Esposito, Bucyk and Hodge) were named First Team All-Stars. Boston were favored to repeat as Cup champions but lost to the Canadiens (and rookie goaltender [[Ken Dryden]]) in seven games.

While the Bruins were not quite as dominant the next season, Esposito and Orr were once again one-two in the scoring standings and Boston regained the Stanley Cup by defeating the [[New York Rangers]] in six games in the [[1972 Stanley Cup Finals]]. 

The [[1972–73 NHL season|1972–73 season]] saw upheaval for the Bruins. Former head coach Sinden became the general manager. Bruins players Gerry Cheevers, Derek Sanderson, [[Johnny McKenzie]] and [[Ted Green]] left to join the [[World Hockey Association]] (WHA). Coach Tom Johnson was fired 52 games into the season, replaced by [[Bep Guidolin]]. The Adams family, which had owned the team since its founding in the 1920s, sold it to [[Storer Broadcasting]]. The Bruins' season came to a premature end in a first-round loss to the Rangers in the [[1973 Stanley Cup playoffs|1973 playoffs]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Brunt |first=Stephen |year=2006 |pages=53–254 |publisher=Random House |title=Searching for Bobby Orr |isbn=978-0-676-97651-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kgXsAiT97voC |access-date=January 13, 2020 |archive-date=February 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209170211/https://books.google.com/books?id=kgXsAiT97voC |url-status=live}}</ref> In 1974, the Bruins regained their first-place standing in the regular season, with three 100-point scorers on the team (Esposito, Orr, and Hodge). However, they lost the [[1974 Stanley Cup Finals]] in an upset to the [[Philadelphia Flyers]].

[[File:Terry O'Reilly 78-79.JPG|upright|thumb|left|[[Terry O'Reilly]] was drafted by the Bruins 14th overall in the [[1971 NHL amateur draft|1971 draft]]. He played his entire career with the Bruins from 1971 to 1985.]]
[[Don Cherry (ice hockey)|Don Cherry]] stepped behind the bench as the new coach in [[1974–75 NHL season|1974–75]]. The Bruins stocked themselves with [[Enforcer (hockey)|enforcers]] and grinders, and remained competitive under Cherry's reign, the so-called "Lunch Pail A.C"., behind players such as [[Gregg Sheppard]], [[Terry O'Reilly]], [[Stan Jonathan]] and [[Peter McNab]]. This would also turn out to be Orr's final full season in the league, before his knee injuries worsened, as well as the last time Orr and Esposito would finish 1–2 in regular season scoring. The Bruins placed second in the Adams Division, and lost to the [[Chicago Black Hawks]] in the first round of the [[1975 Stanley Cup playoffs|1975 playoffs]], losing a best-of-three series, two games to one.

Continuing with Sinden's rebuilding of the team, the Bruins traded Esposito and [[Carol Vadnais]] for [[Brad Park]], [[Jean Ratelle]] and [[Joe Zanussi]] to the Rangers. The Bruins made the semifinals again, losing to the Flyers, before losing Orr as a free agent to Chicago in the off-season.

Cheevers returned in [[1976–77 NHL season|1977]], and the Bruins got past the Flyers in the semifinals, but were swept by the Canadiens in the [[1977 Stanley Cup Finals|Stanley Cup Finals]]. The story repeated itself in [[1977–78 NHL season|1978]]—with a balanced attack that saw Boston have 11 players with 20+ goal seasons, still the NHL record—as the Bruins made the [[1978 Stanley Cup Finals|Cup Finals]] once more, but lost in six games to Montreal. After that series, John Bucyk retired, holding virtually every Bruins' career longevity and scoring mark to that time.

The [[1979 Stanley Cup playoffs|1979 semifinals]] series against the Canadiens proved to be Cherry's undoing. In the deciding seventh game, the Bruins, up by a goal, were called for having too many men on the ice in the late stages of the third period. Montreal tied the game on the ensuing power play and won in overtime. Cherry was dismissed as head coach thereafter.

===Ray Bourque era (1979–2000)===
The [[1979–80 NHL season|1979–80 season]] saw a new head coach [[Fred Creighton]], and also included a trade of goaltender [[Ron Grahame]] to the [[Los Angeles Kings]] for a first-round pick which was used to select [[Ray Bourque]], one of the greatest defensemen of all-time and the face of the Bruins for over two decades.<ref>{{cite news|work =CNNSI.com |title = Say It Ain't So: Los Angeles Kings |date =February 27, 2001 | url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nhl/news/2001/02/22/sayitaintso_kings/ | publisher=CNN |archive-date =October 25, 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121025121254/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nhl/news/2001/02/22/sayitaintso_kings/}}</ref> The Bruins made the playoffs every year through the 1980s behind stars such as Park, Bourque and [[Rick Middleton]], and had the league's best record in [[1982–83 NHL season|1982–83]] behind a [[Vezina Trophy]]-winning season from ex-Flyers goaltender [[Pete Peeters]], with 110 points, but fell short of making the Stanley Cup Finals.

[[File:Bourque 7.jpg|thumb|left|[[Ray Bourque]], shown in 1981 and before switching to his familiar No. 77, led the Bruins to two Stanley Cup Finals appearances in [[1988 Stanley Cup Finals|1988]] and [[1990 Stanley Cup Finals|1990]].]]
Bourque, [[Cam Neely]] and [[Keith Crowder]] led the Bruins to another Stanley Cup Finals appearance in [[1987–88 NHL season|1988]] against the [[Edmonton Oilers]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1067342/index.htm | publisher=CNN | title=Devilish Feat by the Bruins | date=May 23, 1988 | access-date=April 26, 2010 | archive-date=November 5, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105021420/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1067342/index.htm | url-status=dead}}</ref> The Bruins lost in a four-game sweep. Boston returned to the Stanley Cup Finals in [[1990 Stanley Cup Finals|1990]] (with Neely, Bourque, [[Craig Janney]], [[Bobby Carpenter (ice hockey)|Bobby Carpenter]], and [[rookie]] [[Don Sweeney]], and former Oilers goaltender [[Andy Moog]] and [[Réjean Lemelin|Reggie Lemelin]] splitting goaltending duties), but again lost to the Oilers, this time in five games.

In the [[1987–88 NHL season]], the Bruins defeated their [[Original Six]] nemesis Montreal Canadiens in the playoffs. In [[1990–91 NHL season|1991]] and [[1991–92 NHL season|1992]], the Bruins suffered two consecutive conference finals losses to the eventual Cup champion, the [[Pittsburgh Penguins]]. Starting from the [[1992–93 NHL season]] onwards, the Bruins had not gotten past the second round of the playoffs until winning the Stanley Cup after the [[2010–11 NHL season|2011 season]].

The 1992–93 season ended disappointingly. Despite finishing with the second-best regular season record after Pittsburgh, Boston was swept in the first round by the [[Buffalo Sabres]]. Bourque made the NHL All-Star First Team.

The [[1994–95 NHL season|1995 season]] was the Bruins' last at the [[Boston Garden]]. The final official match played in the Garden was a 3–0 loss to the [[New Jersey Devils]] in the 1995 playoffs; the Bruins went on to play the final game at the old arena on September 28, 1995, in an exhibition matchup against the Canadiens. They subsequently moved into the FleetCenter, now known as the [[TD Garden]]. In the 1996 playoffs, the Bruins lost their first-round series to the [[Florida Panthers]] in five games.

In [[1996–97 NHL season|1997]], Boston missed the playoffs for the first time in 30 years (and for the first time in the expansion era), having set the North American major professional record for most consecutive seasons in the playoffs. The Bruins lost in the first round of the 1998 playoffs to the [[Washington Capitals]] in six games. In 1999, the Bruins defeated the [[Carolina Hurricanes]] in six games during the first round of the playoffs. Nevertheless, they would lose to the Sabres in six games in the second round of the playoffs.

===The new millennium (2000–2015)===
In the [[1999–2000 NHL season|1999–2000 season]], the Bruins finished in last place in the Northeast Division and failed to qualify for the playoffs. During a game between the Bruins and the [[Vancouver Canucks]] on February 21, 2000, [[Marty McSorley]] was ejected for using his stick to hit Canucks forward [[Donald Brashear]] in the head, and subsequently suspended for what resulted in the rest of his career.

After a mediocre start, the Bruins fired coach [[Pat Burns]] in favor of [[Mike Keenan]]. Despite a 15-point improvement, the Bruins missed the playoffs in [[2000–01 NHL season|2000–01]], and Keenan was let go. Center [[Jason Allison]] led the Bruins in scoring. The following season, [[2001–02 NHL season|2001–02]], the Bruins won their first Northeast Division title since [[1992–93 NHL season|1993]] with a core built around [[Joe Thornton]], [[Sergei Samsonov]], [[Brian Rolston]], [[Bill Guerin]], [[Mike Knuble]] and [[Glen Murray (hockey player)|Glen Murray]]. They lost in six games to the Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the playoffs.

The [[2002–03 NHL season|2002–03 season]] found the Bruins finishing seventh in the East, but lost to the eventual Stanley Cup champion [[New Jersey Devils]] in five games. In [[2003–04 NHL season|2003–04]], the Bruins won another division title and appeared to get past the first round for the first time in five years with a 3–1 series lead on the rival Canadiens. However, the Canadiens rallied back to win three consecutive games, upsetting the Bruins.

[[File:Chara, Zdeno.jpg|thumb|left|The Bruins acquired [[Zdeno Chára|Zdeno Chara]] on July 1, 2006, naming him the new team captain.]]
The [[2004–05 NHL season]] was wiped out by a [[2004–05 NHL lockout|lockout]], and Bruins management eschewed younger free agents in favor of older veterans. The Bruins fired general manager Mike O'Connell in March and the Bruins missed the playoffs for the first time in five years.

[[Peter Chiarelli (ice hockey)|Peter Chiarelli]] was hired as the new general manager of the team. Head coach [[Mike Sullivan (ice hockey)|Mike Sullivan]] was fired and [[Dave Lewis (ice hockey)|Dave Lewis]], former coach of the Detroit Red Wings, was hired to replace him. The Bruins signed star defenseman [[Zdeno Chára|Zdeno Chara]], and center [[Marc Savard]]. The 2006–07 season ended in the team finishing in last place in the division. 

After the disappointing [[2006–07 NHL season|2006–07 season]], Lewis was fired as coach, replaced by [[Claude Julien (ice hockey)|Claude Julien]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nhl.com/news/bruins-hire-claude-julien-as-coach/c-319894 | title=Bruins hire Claude Julien as coach | access-date=August 27, 2022 | archive-date=August 27, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220827212631/https://www.nhl.com/news/bruins-hire-claude-julien-as-coach/c-319894 | url-status=live}}</ref> 

The [[2007–08 NHL season|2007–08 campaign]] saw the Bruins finish 41–29–12 and making the playoffs. Although Bruins center [[Patrice Bergeron]] was injured with a concussion most of the season, youngsters [[Milan Lucic]], [[David Krejčí|David Krejci]] and [[Vladimír Sobotka|Vladimir Sobotka]] showed promise in the playoffs.

After a slow start to the [[2008–09 NHL season|2008–09 season]], the Bruins went on to have the best record in the Eastern Conference and qualified for the playoffs for the fifth time in nine years, facing the Canadiens in the playoffs for the fourth time during that span, defeating them in four games before losing in seven games to the [[Carolina Hurricanes]] in the conference semifinals.

On January 1, 2010, the Bruins won the [[2010 NHL Winter Classic|2010 Winter Classic]] over the [[Philadelphia Flyers]] in a 2–1 overtime decision at [[Fenway Park]], thus becoming the first home team to win an outdoor classic game. They finished in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, and a 2010 NHL playoff opening round appearance against the Buffalo Sabres, which they won 4–2. Boston became only the third team in NHL history to lose a playoff series after leading 3–0 when they lost in game 7 to the Philadelphia Flyers.

[[File:Milan Lucic Stanley Cup celebration.jpg|upright|thumb|[[Milan Lucic]] with the [[Stanley Cup]] after the Bruins defeated the [[Vancouver Canucks]] in game 7 of the [[2011 Stanley Cup Finals]].]]
In the [[2011 Stanley Cup playoffs]], the Bruins eliminated the Montreal Canadiens in seven games. On May 6, the Bruins swept the Philadelphia Flyers in four games to advance to the conference finals for the first time since [[1992 Stanley Cup playoffs|1992]]. Boston then defeated the [[Tampa Bay Lightning]] in seven games and advanced to the [[2011 Stanley Cup Finals|Stanley Cup Finals]] for the first time since [[1990 Stanley Cup Finals|1990]] to face the Vancouver Canucks, defeating them in seven games for the team's first Stanley Cup since 1972. The 2010–11 Bruins were the first team in NHL history to win a game 7 three times in the same playoff run.

Following their Stanley Cup win, the Bruins lost [[Mark Recchi]] to retirement and [[Michael Ryder]] and Tomas Kaberle to free agency. The Bruins went on to finish second in the Eastern Conference with 102 points, winning the Northeast Division title, but losing to the Washington Capitals in the first round of the [[2012 Stanley Cup playoffs]] in seven games.

During the off-season preceding the [[2012–13 NHL lockout|lockout]], Tim Thomas made his decision to sit out the [[2012–13 NHL season|2012–13 season]]; his rights were traded to the [[New York Islanders]]. The Bruins battled the Montreal Canadiens for leadership in the Northeast Division all season, before a loss to the Ottawa Senators in a make-up game following the [[Boston Marathon bombing]] on April 28 gave the Canadiens the division title. 

[[File:Boston Bruins Prince of Wales Trophy 2013-06-07.JPG|thumb|The Bruins were the [[2013 Stanley Cup playoffs|2013]] Eastern Conference champions, their second Conference title in three years.]]
In the opening round of the [[2013 Stanley Cup playoffs|2013 playoffs]], the Bruins took on the Toronto Maple Leafs, defeating them in seven games. They went on to beat the New York Rangers in five games and the Pittsburgh Penguins in a four-game sweep to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals and the Chicago Blackhawks, falling in six games, with three going into overtime.

In the [[2013–14 NHL season|2013–14 season]], the Bruins won the [[Presidents' Trophy]] after finishing first in the newly formed [[Atlantic Division (NHL)|Atlantic Division]] with a record of 54–19–9 for 117 points. Their regular season success, however, would not translate into another conference finals appearance. Despite winning their first-round series against the Detroit Red Wings, the team fell to the Canadiens in seven games in the Eastern Conference semifinals during the [[2014 Stanley Cup playoffs|2014 playoffs]].

In the [[2014–15 NHL season|2014–15 season]], the Bruins finished with a record of 41–27–14 for 96 points, missing out on the playoffs by just two points after the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Ottawa Senators clinched the final two playoff spots in the East. The Bruins therefore became only the third team to miss the playoffs after winning the Presidents' Trophy in the previous season. The 96 points they earned that season broke the record for the most points earned by a team that did not make the playoffs.

===Don Sweeney era (2015–present)===
On April 15, 2015, Peter Chiarelli was fired by the Boston Bruins. On May 20, the Bruins named former player [[Don Sweeney]] as the team's new general manager for the [[2015–16 NHL season|2015–16 season]]. One recent all-time franchise achievement the Bruins attained in the 2015–16 season is shared by only their greatest rival, the Canadiens – a total of 3,000 wins in the team's existence, achieved by the Bruins on January 8, 2016, in a 4–1 road victory against the New Jersey Devils.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/bos-vs-njd/2016/01/08/2015020608 |title=Bruins defeat Devils for 3,000th win in history |last1=Morreale |first1=Mike G. |date=January 8, 2016 |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=January 9, 2016 |quote=Center Ryan Spooner and defenseman Colin Miller each had a goal and an assist to help the Boston Bruins become the second team in NHL history to win 3,000 regular season games with a 4–1 win against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on Friday. |archive-date=January 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160109090212/http://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/en/recap?id=2015020608 |url-status=live}}</ref> The team was seen as a playoff contender throughout the regular season. However, a sub-.500 record on home ice and frequent road losses in the final two months of the regular season resulted in a three-way battle for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Bruins had a chance to clinch the final playoff berth with a win over the Ottawa Senators on the second-to-last day of the season, but they lost the game and that combined with a Flyers' win over the Penguins, knocked them out of playoff contention in favor of the Flyers. For the first time since the two seasons following the 2004–05 lockout, the Bruins did not qualify for the playoffs in two consecutive seasons.

[[File:McAvoy.jpg|thumb|[[Charlie McAvoy]] and other players warming up prior to a game in the [[2017 Stanley Cup playoffs]]. The Bruins qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since [[2014 Stanley Cup playoffs|2014]].]] 
During the last two months of the [[2016–17 NHL season|2016–17]] regular season, the Bruins fired head coach Claude Julien and promoted [[Bruce Cassidy]] to interim coach. Cassidy's very slight changes in coaching to emphasize the players' speed and hockey skills,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/boston_bruins_why_the_atlantic_division_is_there_for_the_taking/s1_7899_24175654 |title=Boston Bruins: Why the Atlantic Division is there for the taking |last=Reissis |first=Alexandros |date=June 15, 2017 |website=yardbarker.com |publisher=Yardbarker |access-date=June 24, 2017 |quote=With the 2016–2017 NHL season finished, it is time to look ahead to next season...The Boston Bruins, who made the playoffs for the first time since 2014, will look to take another step forward under head coach Bruce Cassidy. Cassidy, who replaced Claude Julien, turned the Bruins into a team that used speed and skill, and it worked. Even though the B's lost in Round 1 against the Ottawa Senators in six games, this season was a sign of great things to come. |archive-date=August 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804174108/http://www.yardbarker.com/nhl/articles/boston_bruins_why_the_atlantic_division_is_there_for_the_taking/s1_7899_24175654 |url-status=live}}</ref> as opposed to Julien's, resulted in the Bruins achieving an 18–8–1 record through their remaining regular season games, finishing third in the Atlantic Division and qualifying for the playoffs for the first time since the 2013–14 season. In the first round of the playoffs, the Bruins lost to the Ottawa Senators in six games.

Cassidy returned as head coach for the [[2017–18 NHL season|2017–18 season]], leading the Bruins to the playoffs a consecutive season. They had a record of 50–20–12, including an 18-game point streak, which lasted from December 14, 2017, to January 25, 2018.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/bruins/bruins-extend-point-streak-18-win-over-senators-3-2 |title=Bruins extend point streak to 18 with win over Senators, 3–2 |date=January 25, 2018 |website=nbcsports.com |publisher=NBC Sports |access-date=May 12, 2018 |quote=OTTAWA, Ontario – Jake DeBrusk wasn't even trying to score and ended up with the winner. DeBrusk beat Mike Condon with 8:41 left to lift the Boston Bruins over the Ottawa Senators 3–2 on Thursday night for their fifth consecutive win. |archive-date=May 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180513152153/https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/bruins/bruins-extend-point-streak-18-win-over-senators-3-2 |url-status=live}}</ref> They finished one point behind the [[Tampa Bay Lightning]] for the top spot in the Atlantic Division. They defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round, 4–3, but ultimately lost to the Lightning in round two, 4–1. The season saw young players perform well, including [[Jake DeBrusk]], [[Danton Heinen]], [[Ryan Donato]], and [[Charlie McAvoy]]. The Bruins also acquired veterans [[Rick Nash]], [[Nick Holden]], [[Brian Gionta]], and [[Tommy Wingels]] through trades or through free-agent signings.

During the [[2018–19 NHL season|2018–19 season]] the Bruins finished the regular season in second place in the division with a 49–24–9 overall record. During the trade deadline, the team acquired [[Charlie Coyle]] and [[Marcus Johansson (ice hockey, born 1990)|Marcus Johansson]]. In the first round of the [[2019 Stanley Cup playoffs]], as in the previous season, they faced the Maple Leafs, defeating them in seven games. In a six-game series, the Bruins defeated the [[Columbus Blue Jackets]] in the second round and advanced to the conference finals for the first time since 2013. The Bruins won the conference finals by sweeping out the [[Carolina Hurricanes]] in four games, thus winning the [[Prince of Wales Trophy]] and advancing to the [[2019 Stanley Cup Finals]] for the third time in 10 years.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Satriano |first1=David |title=Bruins will play Sharks or Blues in Stanley Cup Final |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/boston-bruins-will-play-stanley-cup-final-against-blues-or-sharks/c-307435680 |website=NHL.com |access-date=May 18, 2019 |date=May 17, 2019 |archive-date=May 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517135326/https://www.nhl.com/news/boston-bruins-will-play-stanley-cup-final-against-blues-or-sharks/c-307435680 |url-status=live}}</ref> They faced the [[St. Louis Blues]] in a rematch of the [[1970 Stanley Cup Finals]]. This time, however, the Blues would emerge victorious, winning in seven games.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rutherford |first1=Kristina |title=Inside the historic, controversial, mind-blowing 2019 Cup Final |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/blues-bruins-stanley-cup-final-big-read/ |website=Sportsnet.ca |access-date=November 27, 2024}}</ref>

During the [[2019–20 NHL season|2019–20 season]], the Bruins consistently had the best record in the Atlantic Division and were near the top of the league. During the trade deadline, they acquired [[Ondřej Kaše|Ondrej Kase]] and [[Nick Ritchie]], both from the [[Anaheim Ducks]], in two separate trades.<ref>{{cite web |last1=O'Brien |first1=James |title=NHL on NBCSN: Bruins hope trade deadline additions get going vs. Stars |url=https://nhl.nbcsports.com/2020/02/27/bruins-trade-deadline-additions-hope-to-find-footing-against-stars-on-nbcsn/ |website=nhl.nbcsports.com |access-date=May 27, 2020 |date=February 27, 2020 |archive-date=April 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200420145521/https://nhl.nbcsports.com/2020/02/27/bruins-trade-deadline-additions-hope-to-find-footing-against-stars-on-nbcsn/ |url-status=live}}</ref> On March 12, 2020, the NHL season was paused due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Schram |first1=Carol |title=NHL Pauses 2019–20 Season As Coronavirus Spreads |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/carolschram/2020/03/12/nhl-pauses-2019-20-season-due-to-coronavirus-spread/#25a91ee72d2d |website=Forbes |access-date=May 27, 2020 |date=March 12, 2020 |archive-date=June 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603211816/https://www.forbes.com/sites/carolschram/2020/03/12/nhl-pauses-2019-20-season-due-to-coronavirus-spread/#25a91ee72d2d |url-status=live}}</ref> At the time of the pause, the Bruins were first overall in the league, with 100 points. On May 26, Commissioner [[Gary Bettman]] announced that the 2019–20 regular season was completed and that the league would resume with the playoffs.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Clipperton |first1=Joshua |title=NHL formally adopts 24-team playoff format, announces altered draft lottery |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/gary-bettman-newser-nhl-playoff-format-1.5585260 |website=CBC.ca |access-date=May 27, 2020 |date=May 26, 2020 |archive-date=May 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200527011707/https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/gary-bettman-newser-nhl-playoff-format-1.5585260 |url-status=live}}</ref> The Bruins were awarded the [[Presidents' Trophy]] for the second time in a decade, while [[David Pastrňák|David Pastrnak]]'s 48 goals made him the first Bruin to win the [[Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy]], which he shared with [[Alexander Ovechkin]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Bruins Officially Land Trio Of NHL Regular Season Awards, Including Presidents' Trophy |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/bruins-nhl-awards-presidents-trophy-davis-pastrnak-tuukka-rask-jaroslav-halak-richard-jennings/ |website=CBS News |access-date=March 10, 2025 |date=May 28, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Porter |first1=Matt |title=Bruins' David Pastrnak finishes season tied for Rocket Richard Trophy as NHL's top goal-scorer |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/05/27/sports/bruins-david-pastrnak-finishes-season-tied-rocket-richard-trophy-nhls-top-goal-scorer/ |website=BostonGlobe.com |access-date=May 27, 2020 |date=May 27, 2020 |archive-date=November 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116160515/https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/05/27/sports/bruins-david-pastrnak-finishes-season-tied-rocket-richard-trophy-nhls-top-goal-scorer/ |url-status=live}}</ref> During the [[2020 Stanley Cup playoffs]], the Bruins won the first round against the Carolina Hurricanes in five games, but lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second round, also in five games. In the [[2020–21 NHL season|2020–21 season]], the Bruins made the [[2021 Stanley Cup playoffs|2021 playoffs]], where they defeated the [[Washington Capitals]] in five games but lost to the [[New York Islanders]] in six games. In the [[2021–22 NHL season|next season]], the Bruins clinched the [[2022 Stanley Cup playoffs|2022 playoffs]] as the first wild card team but were defeated by the Hurricanes in seven games. Following the season, head coach Cassidy was fired. They then hired [[Jim Montgomery (ice hockey)|Jim Montgomery]], previously the head coach of the [[Dallas Stars]], as their next head coach on July 3, 2022.

During the [[2022–23 NHL season|2022–23 season]], the Bruins broke NHL records and led the Atlantic Division for the entire season. First, they set an NHL record for longest home winning streak from the start of a season (14) from October 15 to December 3.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bruins Set NHL Record with 12th Consecutive Home Win |url=https://www.nhl.com/bruins/news/bruins-set-nhl-record-with-12th-consecutive-home-win/c-338055748 |access-date=June 13, 2023 |website=NHL.com |date=November 25, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pohoryles |first=Joe |date=December 3, 2022 |title=Bruins defeat Avalanche for 14th consecutive win at home to start season |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/colorado-avalanche-boston-bruins-game-recap/c-338166654 |access-date=June 6, 2023 |website=NHL.com}}</ref> Then on March 2, 2023, the Bruins recorded their 100th standings point of the season in their 61st game, becoming the fastest team to 100 points in NHL history, and surpassing the record previously held by the [[1976–77 Montreal Canadiens season|1976–77 Montreal Canadiens]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://apnews.com/article/sabres-bruins-nhl-hockey-pastrnak-e32b311eed018dd0e2f699daf3467d0e |title=Bruins rout Sabres 7–1, become fastest team to 100 points |publisher=Associated Press |date=March 2, 2023 |access-date=March 2, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Russo |first=Eric |title=Bruins Make History, Become Fastest Team to 100 Points |url=https://www.nhl.com/bruins/news/bruins-make-history-become-fastest-team-to-100-points/c-341766578 |access-date=June 13, 2023 |website=NHL.com |date=March 3, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Evans |first=Jace |title=Boston Bruins set new NHL record by reaching 100-point mark in just 61 games |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/bruins/2023/03/02/bruins-set-nhl-record-100-points-61-games/11387479002/ |access-date=June 13, 2023 |website=USA TODAY}}</ref> Nine days later, they set an all-time NHL record as the fastest team to achieve 50 wins, hitting the mark in 64 games compared to a previous record of 66 games held jointly by the [[1995–96 Detroit Red Wings season|1995–96 Detroit Red Wings]] and [[2018–19 Tampa Bay Lightning season|2018–19 Tampa Bay Lightning]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Leger |first1=Justin |title=Bruins make NHL history with comeback win over Red Wings |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/bruins/bruins-become-fastest-team-nhl-history-win-50-games |website=RSN |access-date=March 20, 2023 |date=March 11, 2023}}</ref> In that same game, the Bruins became the third-fastest team in history to clinch a playoff spot during the era of 82-game seasons, trailing only the 1995–96 Detroit Red Wings (59 games) and the [[1998–99 Dallas Stars season|1998–99 Dallas Stars]] (63 games).<ref>{{cite web |title=Bruins become first team in NHL to clinch playoff berth this season |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/boston-bruins-clinch-nhl-playoff-berth-fastest-team-bergeron-pastrnak-ullmark-montgomery/ |website=CBS Boston |access-date=March 20, 2023 |date=March 11, 2023}}</ref> On April 9, 2023, the Bruins set the new all-time record for most games won in a season (63), when they defeated the [[Philadelphia Flyers]]. Two days later, the Bruins set the new all-time single-season points record (133), when they defeated the Washington Capitals, and they finished the season with 65 wins and 135 points.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Russo |first=Eric |title=Bruins Set NHL's All-Time Single-Season Points Record |url=https://www.nhl.com/bruins/news/bruins-set-nhls-all-time-single-season-points-record/c-343435156 |access-date=June 13, 2023 |website=NHL.com |date=April 12, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wyshynski |first=Greg |date=April 12, 2023 |title=Bruins top Caps, set NHL record with 133 points |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/36164424/bruins-defeat-capitals-set-another-nhl-record-133-points |access-date=April 12, 2023 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Russo |first=Eric |title=Bruins Close Out Historic Regular Season with Win in Montreal |url=https://www.nhl.com/bruins/news/bruins-close-out-historic-regular-season-with-win-in-montreal/c-343527354 |access-date=June 13, 2023 |website=NHL.com |date=April 14, 2023}}</ref> The Bruins lost to the Florida Panthers in seven games in the opening round of the [[2023 Stanley Cup playoffs]] after giving up a 3–1 series lead.

In the [[2023–24 NHL season|2023–24 season]], the Bruins finished in second place in the Atlantic Division with 109 points. In the first round of the [[2024 Stanley Cup playoffs|2024 playoffs]], the Bruins eliminated the Toronto Maple Leafs in seven games, and in the second round, they were eliminated by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers again, this time in six games.

In the [[2024–25 NHL season|2024–25 season]], the Bruins fired Jim Montgomery and named [[Joe Sacco]] as interim head coach. They finished in last place in both the Atlantic Division and the Eastern Conference and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016.