Triumph, heartbreak & plenty in between: Ranking the top 15 Bruins moments of the decade

As we get set to welcome in the 2020s, here's a look back at the top 15 Bruins moments of the last decade: 

HONORABLE MENTION: 

Fight night at TD Garden - February 9, 2011

This might have been just a regular-season bout against the Habs during the dog days of the 2010-11 season, but things went off the rails in a hurry — making for one of the more entertaining games in recent memory between these two longtime foes.

This game had just about everything — 14 total goals, 182 combined penalty minutes and yes, who could forget that bout between Tim Thomas and Carey Price? The Bruins ultimately left the TD Garden ice with an 8-6 victory over Montreal, and an assortment of clips that will make many B’s highlight reels for a long, long time.



Bruins open 2010s with a bang — January 1, 2010:

The 2010s were a decade of mostly highs — and a couple lows — for the Bruins, and it all kicked off with a memorable win at Fenway Park in the 2010 Winter Classic. While Boston took part in three Winter Classics this decade (posting a 2-1 record in matchups at Fenway, Gillette Stadium and Notre Dame Stadium), the 2010 showdown against the Flyers featured the most pomp and circumstance.

Whether it be the venue, the sight of Bobby Orr and Bobby Clarke taking to the ice as honorary captains and, of course, Marco Sturm’s OT winner, this showcase was a great way to welcome in a decade filled with plenty of promise for B’s. 



15. A fumbled draft — June 26, 2015:

Looking back, the 2015 NHL Draft wasn’t exactly a complete failure for the Bruins. After all, Boston snagged a top-six winger in Jake DeBrusk with the 14th overall pick, added defensive stalwart Brandon Carlo in the second round and acquired goalie Martin Jones in a deal with the Kings centered around Milan Lucic. Jones was traded days later for Sean Kuraly and a first-round pick.

But let’s be frank — in what could be one of the deepest drafts in NHL history, the Bruins whiffed big time on two of their three first-round picks. 

While Zach Senyshyn and Jakub Zboril could develop into solid NHLers down the line, it’s hard to shake the fact that the Bruins let this crop of skaters slip through their fingers: Mathew Barzal, Kyle Connor, Thomas Chabot, Brock Boeser and Travis Konecny. 

The Bruins are still a Cup contender and have a strong core in place — but man, what could have been.



14. More misery for Toronto — April 25, 2018 & April 23, 2019:

Make it two years, and two miserable playoff exits for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2018 and 2019 — both Game 7 losses to the B's at TD Garden.

Boston secured its first playoff series victory under Bruce Cassidy thanks to a 7-4 final against the Leafs on April 25, 2018. Toronto entered the third period with a slim, one-goal lead, but Boston rallied back — lighting the lamp four times over the final 20 minutes of play to send the Leafs packing.



Next year, Boston pounced early, with first-period goals from Joakim Nordstrom and Marcus Johansson giving the B's all the scoring that they would need in a 5-1 victory. Postgame, David Pastrnak had some fun at the expense of one notable Maple Leafs fan.

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1120874650165231616

13. Bruins collapse against Philly - May 14, 2010:

The sting of the 2010 Eastern Conference Semifinals subsided in a hurry, given that Boston ultimately went on to hoist the Stanley Cup just a year later. But in the moment, this was a crushing defeat for the Bruins, who held a 3-0 series lead over the Flyers at one point. 

A trip to the conference final would not be in the cards for Boston, however, as the Flyers became just the third team in NHL history (at the time) to rally back from a 3-0 deficit to win a playoff series. Game 7, held a TD Garden, was the icing on the cake — as Boston saw a 3-0 first-period lead evaporate in what was ultimately a 4-3 Flyers victory.  



12. Matt Cooke takes out Marc Savard — March 7, 2010: 

The Bruins have had plenty of “What If” moments in their 95 years as a franchise (some of which we will get to later on in this list). One that always comes to mind is what could have been had Marc Savard not had to hang up his skates at just 33 years old due to concussion issues.

Those ailments were brought on by a cheap, blindside hit from Penguins forward Matt Cooke during this game in Pittsburgh — a 2-1 loss for Boston. While Savard returned that season and played in the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Flyers, he was never the same. 

Savard, who averaged 87 points in each of his first three seasons with Boston, only appeared in 25 more games with Boston during the 2010-11 season before spending the rest of the year on the shelf due to another concussion. He never played another NHL game — ending his career with 706 points in 807 games. Despite missing most of the season, the Bruins successfully petitioned to get Savard’s name engraved on the Stanley Cup following their win.



11. Campbell puts body on line, B’s put Pens on brink — June 5, 2013:

The Bruins were far from the favorites going into the 2013 Eastern Conference Final, squaring off against a Penguins team that posted a 36-12-0 record during a lockout-shortened season. 

But Pittsburgh’s lofty record didn’t factor into all that much come the playoffs, as Boston ultimately swept the Pens to advance to the 2013 Stanley Cup Final. Games 3 and 4 at TD Garden were far from a walk in the park, however, with Boston outscoring Pittsburgh, 3-1, in those two games.

The contest that put Pittsburgh on the brink of elimination was another hard-fought Game 3 matchup between both clubs — one that was ultimately decided by a goal from Patrice Bergeron at 15:19 in double overtime.

But the highlight that remains ingrained in many Bruins fans' memory from this night was the sight of Gregory Campbell, his right leg shattered after blocking an Evgeni Malkin slapshot, getting back on his feet and helping his club kill off a Pittsburgh power play during the second period. 



10. Bruins deal away Seguin — July 4, 2013: 

Amid rumors of off-ice issues and a brutal showing in the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs (one goal in 22 games), one had to wonder if a 21-year-old Tyler Seguin was going to need a wake-up call going into his fourth season with Boston.

But few predicted that Boston would opt to deal the troubled, but uber-talented forward later that summer.

It was a deal that honestly could have crippled most teams for a decade — with Boston trading Seguin, Rich Peverley and Ryan Button to Dallas in return for Loui Eriksson, Reilly Smith, Joe Morrow and Matt Fraser. 

Eriksson only spent three seasons with Boston, but the forward did manage to tally 147 points over 224 games with the Bruins. Smith, who tallied 51 points in his first season with Boston, was ultimately dealt to Florida in July 2015 in exchange for Jimmy Hayes. Since that trade, Smith has averaged 50 points over the following four seasons.

Morrow ended up skating in 65 games with Boston over three seasons, with the defenseman now playing over in Belarus with the KHL’s Dinamo Minsk. Fraser appeared in 38 games with Boston, scoring five goals.

Meanwhile, Seguin has tallied 495 points in 508 career games with Dallas. Sheesh.