Since I’m still not over the fact that it’s the offseason, I figured I'd look back at the year in Bruins hockey and put together my favorite moments. I probably left a few things out, but anyone who closely followed the team should remember these ten incidents and milestones from a pretty damn good season. Of course, many of them involve our buddies in the Bleu, Blanc et Rouge:

10)  Patrice Bergeron isn’t known for dropping the gloves, so I wasn’t the only one caught off guard during Boston’s 5-1 disembowelment of Montreal in Game 2. Josh Gorges was apparently surprised as well--after a few provocative prods from the Canadiens’ defenseman, Bergeron answered the bell with a quick knockout that served as a fitting prelude to the series outcome and launched Jack Edwards into thoroughly hyperbolic excitement. For the first time in his NHL career, Bergeron was assessed a five-minute major, and fans were delighted to witness it.

9)  Back when the Bruins could do no wrong--losing just twice in regulation through November and December--Phil Kessel was the catalyst for their offensive success, recording 14 goals and 14 assists over an 18-game span. His point streak was the longest by a Bruin in over a decade; Adam Oates registered at least a point in 20 straight during the 1997-98 season. More importantly, Kessel’s streak marked his arrival as the premier sniper the Bruins were seeking when they selected him fifth overall in 2006. Here’s hoping Chiarelli finds a way to keep him in black and gold for at least another season.

8)  While the Bruins’ magical regular season was just getting on its feet, their only date with the Stars back in October provided for one of their most entertaining affairs. Complete with a 5-1 victory, viewers were treated to an array of fisticuffs triggered by notorious agitators Steve Ott and Sean Avery. Ott, whom Edwards animatedly referred to as a "knee-seeking missile," did his best Claude Lemieux in refusing to drop the gloves after a series of questionable hits, eventually receiving his comeuppance in an open-ice collision with Andrew Ference. The tension climaxed when Avery hit Milan Lucic from behind, sparking a full-out brawl that featured a beatdown by Shane Hnidy on Stars defenseman Matt Niskanen.  

7)  Tim Thomas received all sorts of accolades for his career season--a Vezina Trophy is no small feat--but his role as a leader and competitor shouldn’t be overlooked. In a Jan. 13 tilt with the Habs, Andrei Kostitsyn plastered Aaron Ward in the numbers, drawing the ire of the Boston faithful and, in particular, the Bruins goaltender. Thomas proceeded to deck Kostitsyn as he skated by the crease, adding a little fuel to the simmering rivalry, and cementing Thomas’ place among the more fiery, blue-collar goaltenders in league history.

6)  Blake Wheeler's incredible individual effort against St. Louis on Dec. 21 was arguably one of the best goals all season. With the Bruins shorthanded and linemate David Krejci heading for a change, Wheeler entered the offensive zone with three blue shirts and a goalie planted between him and the twine. Instead of dumping the puck, he reduced St. Louis’ skaters to pylons with a series of spins and fakes, deked netminder Manny Legace and potted his own rebound, leaving the Blues’ power-play unit thoroughly embarrassed.

5)  Glass is frequently cracked by an errant slapper--but shattered by a forceful body check? In perhaps the most lasting image of the season, Milan Lucic did just that, slamming Mike Van Ryn into the next universe with a brutal hit that showered the front row with glass and sent the rest of the crowd into a frenzy. Fortunately, no serious injuries were sustained, although Van Ryn was visibly shaken. The clip is sure to be a mainstay on highlight reels for years to come; I’ve never seen anything quite like it.

4)  Speaking of Looch, his growing rivalry with Mike Komisarek finally came to fruition early in the season with a memorable pummeling of the pugnacious Habs defenseman. Staked to a 5-1 third-period lead, Lucic engaged Komisarek and didn’t disappoint, thrashing him with so many right hooks that Komisarek actually went on the shelf with resulting injuries. Furthermore, the fight was the defining moment in a game, and a season, in which the Bruins finally seemed to turn the tables on their loathed rivals.  

3)  There’s no doubt in my mind that NHL Awards Night helped ease some of the devastation caused by Hurricane Walker. The Bruins swept the three major awards for which they were nominated: Zdeno Chara won the Norris, Thomas won the Vezina, and Claude Julien took home the Jack Adams. Although Thomas was the clear favorite for netminder of the year, Chara and Julien overcame staunch competition in capturing their awards, and deservedly so. I was particularly pleased to see the Norris handed to Chara and not Mike Green; after all, it’s an award for best defenseman. Green, while splendid offensively, does not have the type of shutdown prowess that Chara possesses.

2)  I’m beating a dead horse here, but the Bruins demolished expectations with their best regular season in nearly 40 years. And while they ran away with the conference for much of the year, they were finally rewarded on Apr. 4 when they clinched the top seed with a 1-0 victory over the Rangers. Thomas was stellar, defense was smart and tight, and scoring was timely--a recipe for success that they seemingly coasted on for much of the year. The win marked the Bruins’ first Eastern Conference championship since 2001-02.

1)  Obviously, the Bruins’ first playoff series victory since 1999 is the most memorable moment of the season--at least in my opinion, and especially considering the opponent. It was surely satisfying for Michael Ryder, who thoroughly deflated his former team with two goals and an assist in the series-clinching game in Montreal. And, while listening to scathing mock cheers from the locals was a treat, nothing sounded better than the silence that filled the building when the sweep was complete and Les Habs bid adieu to their overhyped centennial season. It’s really too bad that Komisarek couldn’t stick around for the traditional postgame handshake. Classless, indeed.

Honorable Mentions: Krejci’s hat trick, Thomas’ brilliant save vs. New Jersey, Thomas’ All-Star game performance, Bitz! Bitz! Bitz!, Tuukka’s goose egg.

If I forgot anything and/or you disagree with me, feel free to comment.