Bruins Set Franchise Record for Wins, Clinch Presidents' Trophy

BOSTON - The Bruins are quite aware of how historic their 2022-23 season has been.
No one, however, could have predicted the dominance that they have displayed from the start of the Black & Gold's 99th campaign - or that they would set a new franchise standard for single-season excellence.

But that's exactly what this club did on Thursday night at TD Garden.
When David Pastrnak took a feed from Hampus Lindholm in the neutral zone and sailed in on Columbus goalie Michael Hutchinson, finishing a nifty backhander around the netminder's right pad for his 53rd goal of the season just 41 seconds into overtime, he wasn't just securing a 2-1 victory.
He was also locking up history.
The win was Boston's 58th of the season, a new club record, and also clinched the team's fourth Presidents' Trophy as the NHL's top seed. In addition, the Bruins tied the club mark for points in a single season with 121.
"Obviously, to have won the Presidents Trophy, like I said to the players, be proud of what we achieved," said coach Jim Montgomery. "I guess it exemplifies how good of a team we've been, and that's a feather in everyone's hat throughout the organization, including scouts, pro scouts, the job they've done for us, the amateur scouts throughout the years and, obviously, upper management.
"And then you look at the players, what they've done. It's the players that get us there, and it's a bunch of work that's gone in throughout the organization to get the right players in our locker room.
"It's been a magical season so far. We know the hardest part is ahead of us, and we're looking forward to that grind."

The Bruins, of course, have their eyes set on a much larger prize.
"Of course, you're proud," said Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron. "It was a lot of games. A lot of hard work. I'm proud of the way we've done it by sticking to our process and growing as a team and learning, and really playing for each other. That being said, it's nice, but obviously, you have your eyes set on something bigger. We know there's a lot of work in front of us."
"It's awesome to be part of this team," added Trent Frederic. "There's three trophies in this league and we got one of them right now, but the other two are the ones we're really going for, so it feels good. It feels cool to be a part of an historic franchise - and to have your name a part of that and this team is pretty cool."

Lauko Gets 'Em Going

On the heels of a lackluster loss to Nashville on Tuesday, the Bruins were again struggling to find their game in the early going against the last-place Blue Jackets. And with special teams taking over much of the first period, Jakub Lauko, who is not a regular on the power play or penalty kill, was looking for a way to get himself and his team into the fight - literally.
As such, Lauko saw an opportunity to drop the gloves with Blue Jackets blue liner and Massachusetts native Billy Sweezey as the duo traded blows in a spirited bout early in the second period. Moments later, the Bruins tied the game on Tyler Bertuzzi's net-front power-play marker to make it, 1-1.
"I hadn't played much in the first period because we had a lot of PK and PP," said Lauko. "The start of the second period I just felt like we were kind of flat. It was a great opportunity, great moment, get the guys going, get the crowd going. I think they scored there right after, so I think it paid off. I'm happy that we won."
While the fight certainly helped Boston gain some juice, Lauko is always aiming to create that momentum each time he hits the ice with his skating and forechecking.
"Bring energy and be energetic and just bring the juice to the game," he said. "It's just all the things I'm doing like harder on the forecheck. I try to hit people and I will fight when it's necessary. That's what I do and that's what I need to keep doing."
Lauko, Boston's 2018 third-round pick, added that after last season he began to embrace the fact that this kind of role - as opposed to the scoring and skill role he was used to - could lead to opportunity at the NHL level.
"I had a couple talks with my dad, my agent and I just needed to like figure it out in my head," said Lauko. "What would I want to do? What do I expect from myself? I just like figured out my upside is not like Pasta's upside or [Brad Marchand's] upside, so I was like, 'If I want to be playing here, if I want to keep playing here, I just need to change the way I'm playing a little bit and do what I do the best.'
"That's like bringing the energy skating, be hard, and be responsible on the ice. I just kind of figure it out by myself a little bit and I'm happy it's paying off."
The 23-year-old Czech native is also aware of the situation around him. With the injured Taylor Hall and Nick Foligno back on the ice and aiming for returns in the postseason, Lauko is using this period as a regular in the lineup to show that he can be counted on if needed at the most important time of the year.
"I know how the lineup is looking here," said Lauko. "When Hallsy and Fliggy going to be back, it's going to be hard to crack the lineup. These games I'm taking to show everyone that if something happens or if coach is going to make a different decision, I'm ready and they can rely on me. I can be the player for playoffs. I can be a Boston Bruin for the playoffs."

Fightin' Freddy

While Lauko lit the match, Trent Frederic brought the fireworks.
On the heels of Lauko's fight, the Bruins went on the power play after Columbus forward Lane Pederson cross-checked Bergeron in the side of the head, leaving Boston's captain bloodied by his right ear. The penalty was initially assessed as a five-minute major but was downgraded to a minor after video review.
The Bruins capitalized, as they broke through on the man advantage, with Bertuzzi's marker off a feed from Pavel Zacha with 9:53 to go in the second. But Frederic did not believe it was settled there.
Later in the period, Frederic challenged Pederson and dropped the 25-year-old with one right to the side of the chin.
"I think it probably should have been a five, but when it's not, that's when…I guess that's what's so great about hockey is you get to put it in your own hands," said Frederic.
Bergeron, who said postgame that he received about five stitches, was appreciative of Frederic's efforts.
"It's great. We always say that we're there for one another, and obviously, it means a lot for him to do that after that play," said Bergeron. "I like to think that we're like that for everyone. I feel like we're a tight group and it's a pack mentality.
"It's one of those things where, obviously, it means a lot that he stepped up, but I know he would have done it for anyone else."

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