Bruins Clinch Atlantic Division with Win Over Tampa

BOSTON - Jim Montgomery kept the focus away from the most significant achievement of the afternoon. Despite the Bruins clinching the Atlantic Division - the 27th division championship in club history - Boston's bench boss did not mention the latest Black & Gold checkpoint when he addressed the team following a playoff-like, 2-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning at TD Garden on Saturday afternoon.

Instead, Montgomery opted, as he always does, to highlight some individual milestones, which on Saturday included Dmitry Orlov's 700th career game and David Krejci moving into fifth place on the B's all-time games played list (1,028).
"You know, I forgot because things were happening so quickly," Montgomery, whose club has now won six straight games and is won shy of tying the franchise's single-season record of 57, said of the division title. "We had Orlov who had his 700th game and Krejci moved into fifth place all-time as a Bruin and we talked about those things. We didn't actually talk about the Atlantic Division, but it's a tremendous feat with 10 games left."
That it is.
The Bruins became the third-fastest team in NHL history to clinch a division championship (72 games) in the 82-game, four-division format. Only the 1995-96 Detroit Red Wings (68 games) and 1996-97 Colorado Avalanche (70 games) accomplished the feat faster.
"It's not something that we stop and worry about," said Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron, echoing his head coach. "We want to improve, we want to get better. We like the response and talked about that. We like the effort 5-on-5 and the 60-minute effort from top to bottom. It's a good response. Even though we won last game I thought it could have been better. We go out and play against a really good team and come out on top."
Bergeron added that the Bruins have aimed to remain focused on the big picture, making sure they are playing to their identity, as opposed to zeroing in on records and milestones.
"I think it's been important," he said. "I don't think we've had to really remind each other about that, that much. I feel like a few times during the year we had to go back there and process more details, but I feel like it's been the guys have been buying in, the guys have been sticking to their act. It's been something we've talked about since day one. We take a lot of pride in it."

The Winning 'Way

Garnet Hathaway knows well how difficult it is for opposing teams to have success at TD Garden. For years, he experienced it firsthand as a visitor with Calgary and Washington.
So, with the three-time defending Eastern Conference champion Lightning in town on Saturday, being tough to play against is exactly what the Bruins wanted to do.
"I think we just fell back on the work ethic of this team," said Hathaway. "How we've played at home all year, it's a tough place to play. It's tough to come in here - firsthand I know. It's tough to come in here and play against our team at home. The fans were great."
Hathaway helped set the tone from, essentially, the drop of the puck. After tussling with Tampa's Pat Maroon ahead of the opening draw, the winger just nine seconds into the game dropped the gloves with Maroon after Jakub Lauko tangled with Ross Colton at center ice. It was the second time Hathaway has fought Maroon this season.
"We had an inkling that Tampa Bay was going to want to play a very energetic, emotional game," said Montgomery. "I didn't know it was going to happen that quick, but we start [the Tomas] Nosek [line] a lot at home because they always get us off to a good start...they did again tonight…I think it's why we were so excited when we acquired [Hathaway].
"It's because he's a guy who builds you team game in all three zones and then he understands momentum, he understands when the other team is trying to impose their will and does a great job of imposing our will."

In addition to the spark the fourth line provided all afternoon, they also connected for the game's most important moment when Hathaway collected the rebound from a Matt Grzelcyk point shot and whacked home a rebound from the doorstep to give Boston a 2-1 lead with just 2:28 left in the second.
"I thought it was a good forecheck by Lauks and Nose, kind of making a scrum against the wall, making them turn, play it below their goal line," said Hathaway. "And Nose sends it up to Grizzy, and that's the way to break down their coverage. Our identity is going to the net and rebounds happen, and it just worked out.
"That's what we practice every day. We do net front drills in practice. Sometimes you see it, sometimes reactionary, but that's all part of the story."
And what a story it has been so far for the Kennebunkport, Maine, native since being acquired from the Capitals along with Orlov late last month. Hathaway has scored three goals with the Black & Gold with two of them serving as game-winners.
"He's been great. I've always liked his game," said Bergeron. "You don't like playing against him, but he's very efficient…and he came in and fit nicely on that line. Even off the ice he's a great guy. Seems to be a character guy and he's leading in his own way. Leading by example. Can't say enough about him and the impact he has had so far."
Hathaway, meanwhile, can't say enough about the team he has joined.
"I'm really happy to be here," said Hathaway. "I felt like part of the team from the very beginning. I feel like I've been part of the team to get them where they are already. Being a part of it and then instantly taking a role and trying to help this team continue to get to where we want to go and that's just how this group is, inclusive.
"Playing against this team already, on the other side, seeing how successful they were before I got here, wanting to be a part of a continuous run, and helping it. It's a little bit of stress, you go into it and you want to make an impact, and you want to feel part of the team, and this group is unbelievable in that.
"I get a call saying I'm traded but you don't know where it is initially, and I couldn't be happier for where it is."

Wait, There's More