The Boston Bruins entered the Stanley Cup playoffs after the most successful regular season in NHL history. They set a single-season record for wins and shattered the 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens' mark of 132 points.
"When I think about how great those teams were, and how we surpassed that total, it's significant. Because those were dominant hockey teams," Boston coach Jim Montgomery said.
"Dominant" might not do justice to the Bruins' performance this season. They outpaced opponents in the standings with nary a losing streak. They won at home, on the road, in the East and in the West.