BOSTON --There were times this season when qualifying for the Stanley Cup Playoffs seemed a dicey proposition for the Boston Bruins.

Their goaltending situation was propped up by backup Jaroslav Halak. They were down one or two or even three regular defensemen on given nights. Zdeno Chara missed 19 consecutive games at one point. Center Patrice Bergeron missed 16 straight another stretch. The Bruins' scoring was concentrated on their top line, and their third-line was a revolving door.
But it all came together for the Bruins, starting after the All-Star Break, when they got mostly healthy and ripped off a 19-game point streak (15-0-4) from Feb. 3-March 9 when it rose from the first wild card from the Eastern Conference to second place in the Atlantic Division, passing both the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs.
That rise culminated when the Bruins clinched their third straight postseason berth with a 7-3 win against the Florida Panthers on Saturday, following the Tampa Bay Lightning to become the second team from the Eastern Conference to punch its postseason ticket
Here are five reasons why the Bruins clinched a playoff berth:

1. Defensive prowess

The Bruins have not been a high-scoring team this season, averaging 3.08 goals per game, tied for 11th in the NHL. But their defense -- and goaltending -- has made up the difference. Boston is third (2.48), behind the New York Islanders (2.39) and Dallas Stars (2.47), in team goals-against average.
That's especially impressive given that the Bruins have used 12 defensemen this season, their most since 2013-2014, dipping deep into their prospect pool for players like Urho Vaakanainen, Jakub Zboril, Connor Clifton and Jeremy Lauzon.
It has taken maturation from young defensemen like Charlie McAvoy and Matt Grzelcyk and the steady play of veterans like Chara and Kevan Miller -- in addition to the help from a group of defensively responsible forwards -- but the Bruins defense has seemed more than the sum of its parts this season, and it has shown in the stats.

2. Tuukka Rask's resurgence

At the start of the season, it did not look like it would be Tuukka Rask's year. The 32-year-old goalie began the season by giving up five goals in 27:28 to the Washington Capitals on opening night, and it got only slightly better from there. The starter's job was effectively handed to Halak, and criticism of Rask was ratcheted up.
But Rask turned his season around in December and went on an impressive run in January and February. On Dec. 23, he was 8-8-2 with a 2.56 goals-against-average and .911 save percentage. In his next 20 games, he was 16-0-3 with a 1.90 GAA and .929 save percentage.
"He's been really good for us," coach Bruce Cassidy said. "We've talked about it over and over. You have to be, right? To have that many games where you get points, you have to be pretty solid. You can't have an off night very often, and he hasn't."

3. Surviving the injuries

Though the Bruins haven't been as decimated as the Arizona Coyotes or Dallas Stars, they have been battered by injuries throughout the season, especially on defense. Boston has lost a total of 227 man-games to injury, including to several crucial players.
Among the players who have been sidelined extended stretches are McAvoy (20 games), Chara (19), Bergeron (16), David Pastrnak (16), Miller (sidelined 13 games three different times), Torey Krug (11), Joakim Nordstrom (10), Brandon Carlo (9), Jake DeBrusk (9). And those are only the particularly long absences.
Now forward Sean Kuraly is out four weeks because of surgery on his hand and Krug has been sidelined the past five games with a concussion.
And yet, they've survived.
"I think there's great camaraderie in our room," Cassidy said. "So they're OK with the next guy coming in, as long as he's ready to do his job."

4. The top line

This is where it always begins for the Bruins, the combination of Brad Marchand, Bergeron, and Pastrnak, one of the most dangerous lines in the NHL. It hasn't exactly been smooth sailing for them this season, with Bergeron and Pastrnak each missing significant time because of injuries, but they are still the basis for the bulk of their scoring.
Though David Krejci isn't far behind, the three top the list of Bruins scorers this season, with Marchand (an NHL career high 92 points in 74 games), Bergeron (73 in 59) and Pastrnak (70 in 59) all having dynamic seasons.
Pastrnak, who missed five weeks with a thumb injury, returned March 19. That gives him time to get back up to speed ahead of the playoffs, where it's likely the three will again combine to drive the Bruins as far as they'll go.

5. David Krejci's return to form

It's still either surprising or aggravating to many that Krejci is the highest-paid member of the Bruins, with a contract that averages $7.25 million each year through 2020-21. But after a few down seasons, Krejci is back to being a crucial member of the Bruins, one that former coach Claude Julien always used to use as a barometer for how they were doing or would do.
Krejci hadn't topped 60 points since 2015-2016, but he's already there with three weeks to go in the season. He has 64 points (19 goals, 45 assists), and has teamed with DeBrusk to give the Bruins a viable and productive second line.