McDonald: Your focus should now turn to the Boston Bruins

The 2017-18 season for the Boston Bruins can officially begin.

For those just joining us, the Bruins currently sit in second place in the Atlantic Division with a 31-11-8 record for 70 points. They’ve had only one regulation loss in the last 20 games. Goalie Tuukka Rask is in the midst of a career-best 20-game point streak. Brad Marchand has one game remaining to serve on his five-game suspension. There have been a total of seven rookies to score their first NHL goal for the Bruins this season.

Rookie defenseman Charlie McAvoy is considered a Calder Trophy candidate. Patrice Bergeron is, well, Patrice Bergeron. His line with Marchand and David Pastrnak is considered the best trio in the NHL this season. Oh, captain Zdeno Chara is still playing at age 40 and playing well.

Coach Bruce Cassidy, who took over as coach last Feb. 7, is 48-19-9 in 76 games behind Boston’s bench.



Those are some of the Cliff Notes from the first 50 games of the season. Many around the league believe the Bruins have the ability for a deep playoff run this spring. So, while you’re filing away your Patriots gear and searching for your Bruins sweater and hat, you have to understand there’s a lot to like about the other hometown team.

All your attention should focus on the Bruins for the next three months and beyond. This hockey team does have the ability for a deep run. As currently constituted, general manager Don Sweeney doesn’t have much work to do if he doesn’t want to if the trade deadline approaching on Feb. 26. Even Cassidy is happy with the roster.

“We can always get better,” Cassidy said. “That’s up to Donnie to decide what’s available and what’s not; there are always areas of improvement. I’m happy with our club. I love the guys’ togetherness in the room. I like that they pull for one another. We’ve won a lot of hockey games with different guys in and out of the lineup.

“I like our team. I love the way they compete. We can always get better and that’s probably what we’re going to do.”

The Bruins are winning consistently and there are zero issues in the room. They’re a cohesive unit both on and off the ice.

“I was asked a question awhile ago about what came first, the chemistry or the winning? It was the chemistry. You could see it earlier in the year. It didn’t result automatically in wins, but you could see our guys pulling for one another and when we got healthy and started playing the way we wanted to. You see that up and down the lineup. Guys are happy for each other.”

Case in point: McAvoy returned to the lineup on Saturday after missing four games due to a procedure to treat an abnormal heart rhythm. In the first period against the Maple Leafs, he inadvertently redirected a puck into his own net to tie the game at 1-1. We all know goalies are their own breed and don’t do well when a goal isn’t their fault, but Rask quickly made it a point to skate over to McAvoy and pat him on the back.

“He’s a great teammate,” McAvoy said of Rask. “He’s an unbelievable teammate and an unbelievable player. I’m upset there and it’s obviously a bounce you can’t really control, but to have him come and tap me on the pads and say, ‘Hey, no worries, it’s fine’ means a lot to me as far as focusing and getting back into the game.”

The Bruins rallied and finished with s 4-1 victory over the Maple Leafs. There have been countless examples this season of similar situations when teammates have stuck up for one another and it has brought the team closer.

It’s impressive to see when a team is loaded with youth, but the veterans, not only accept the rookies, but also make it a point to help them develop as productive NHLers. The veteran core talked about that during the offseason and it has paid dividends.

So, it’s Feb. 5. The day after football season ended. Red Sox pitchers and catchers report to spring training on Feb. 14 at Fort Myers, Fla. The Celtics remain in the top spot in the Eastern Conference and there’s six more weeks of winter. The Bruins are playing exciting hockey and showing signs of a deep Stanley Cup playoff contender.

Even the players understand there will be more attention on them now that the Patriots' season is over.

"With the way that they've gone for the last few years now, they're obviously one of the most dominant teams in sports right now, so they have a lot of support and everyone really pushing for them," Marchand said. "They're a great team and we're all pushing for them, but it definitely comes back a bit when they finish. Unfortunately, they didn't finish the way we all wanted them to, but we get more attention once football is over.

"It makes it a lot of fun around here when a certain team goes on a deep run, because you get the whole city behind you, whereas a lot of times throughout the year a lot of fans are dispersed with all the games that are going on, but it makes it more fun when one team is on a run. People care about hockey and the playoffs, but that's when people really focus on it. When you make the playoffs and have a good run that's when you really feel the attention ramp up and the support."

The Bruins now deserve your attention.