Entering their 2019 Winter Classic clash with the Blackhawks, the Bruins were 22-14 and far away from title contention. Tampa Bay and Washington were presumed to be the best teams in the Eastern Conference, while the Bruins were destined for another underwhelming close to a season.
Then they became one of the top teams in the NHL in a matter of two months, almost immediately following their 4-2 win over Chicago in Notre Dame Stadium.
If you ask Torey Krug and Bruce Cassidy, they'll tell you that the Winter Classic win was a turning point in the B's season.
.@ToreyKrug on the Winter Classic being a launching point for this team: "The way we won that game was definitely a step in the right direction...one of the many things that have happened over the year that has brought us together as a group." pic.twitter.com/MeMpYRrHQA — Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) May 19, 2019
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Boston then went 19 consecutive games without losing a game in regulation, sparking a 107-point regular season, which was good for second-most in the league trailing only the Lightning.
Boston had its issues in the playoffs finishing out the Maple Leafs and Blue Jackets, but in each series, they seemed to have overcome a level of diversity you expect out of championship teams.
Whether the Bruins end up winning the Stanley Cup or not, the Winter Classic transformed them from pretenders to contenders. At least, that's what the Bruns believe.
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