Bruins Join New England Dominance Trend

Around this time last year, everyone was raving about how great New England professional sports teams were. The Patriots were undefeated, the Red Sox had just won the 2007 World Series, and the Celtics had become an overnight sensation with their new ‘Big Three.’ One team, the Bruins, were being left out, but boy has that changed this year.

The Bruins finished the ’07-’08 season with 41 wins, 29 losses, and 12 ties. It was certainly a winning record and the team did make it to the quarterfinals, but were knocked out by the Montreal Canadians. Their lackluster season (by New England standards this time last year) was drowned out by the blitz to the ill-fated Super Bowl, Garnett’s defensive plays, and the Red Sox victory hangover.

But now this…

By December 21^st of last season, the Bruins had 18 wins, 12 losses, and 4 games that ended in ties. This season, by the 21^st of December, the Bruins have won 25 games, lost 4, and tied 5 times. So far, they’ve won 7 more games than they had at this point last year, and avoided 8 losses. Pretty good especially when you consider they’ve only played 34 games so far.

ESPN.com currently ranks the Bruins as the number one team in all of the NHL, right in front of last year’s Stanley Cup winners, the Detroit Red Wings. They’re second only to the San Jose Sharks in games won (24 by the Bruins vs. 26 for the Sharks) in the entire NHL and the Bruins have the best record in the Eastern Conference.

The Bruins’ season is one of many surprises in New England this winter. Tom Brady has been replaced (due to injury) by perennial bench-warmer Matt Cassel who has more than stepped up to the plate even if they aren’t undefeated. Randy Moss has been marginalized by the unstoppable Wes Welker and Rajon Rondo is the real reason to watch the Celtics rather than the ‘Big Three.’ Now if only we could add Teixeira to the Red Sox lineup…