Top 5 Boston Bruins playoff moments of the decade 2010-2020

The 2010s saw the Boston Bruins bring home their first Stanley Cup in nearly 40 years, but there were also many other playoff moments that helped define team history.

If you’re a Boston Bruins fan this decade has been relatively good for you. Aside from a few mediocre years in the middle, the B’s have been competitive Cup contenders multiple times. And while they did lose a pair of titles, they had as much success throughout the decade as nearly any team but the Chicago Blackhawks and Pittsburgh Penguins.

The decade began and ended with heartbreak in the final game, but there was plenty to enjoy in between. 2011 was a dream. 2013 was a showcase of resiliency and 2019 was a ride to remember.

As Boston Bruins fans, we were privileged to witness three Winter Classics, two of which had terrific endings. We were able to see some of the game’s best players, Jaromir Jagr and Jarome Iginla, here for a brief time.  By the end of the decade, there were plenty of moments that stood out, but the playoff runs were what we should all cherish.

Here are the five best Boston Bruins playoff moments of the decade.

Marc Savard’s OT Game-Winner vs. Flyers, 2010

While this series is known mainly for the Boston Bruins failure to close a commanding 3-0 lead, Marc Savard’s game-winning goal early in the series is an all-timer. Not only did Savard score a slick surprise goal, but he also topped-it off with a legendary celly.

Marc Savard was everything we wanted in a player as fans. He was going to be a captain someday and was easily a top 6 player on any NHL team. Unfortunately, this would prove to be the one of the last highlights of Savard’s career, as concussions stemming from a hit earlier that season would end his career prematurely.

Combine that with the fact that the Bruins lost the series and many people forget how great this moment was. I am sure that many kids in New England were mimicking Savard’s celebration on ponds for days to come. And ultimately, because of that, it lands at No. 5 on my list.

Charlie Coyle’s OT Game-Winner vs. Blue Jackets, 2019

Young athletes grow up hoping to play professional sports, and most of them dream of playing for their hometown team. For Weymouth’s Charlie Coyle, being a Bruin was likely a dream come true.

And scoring a goal in overtime in the playoffs? Icing on the cake.

But much like the Marc Savard goal, this is easily forgotten because it was in the early rounds and the season ended sourly. However, the mayor of Weymouth quickly earned his keep among Boston Bruins fans with this beauty of a goal.

It certainly set the tone for a series that was very evenly-matched and full of excitement. And, with Charlie Coyle here to stay, there may be more than just this moment for him as we head into the 2020s.

Here’s to hoping that this season ends much more triumphant for the B’s. I’m sure winning a Stanley Cup is the next item on Coyle’s bucket list.

Nathan Horton’s OT Game-Winner vs. Canadiens, 2011

Back in the good ol’ days before NBC had every single playoff game exclusively, I can still remember Jack Edwards exclaiming that the Bruins had knocked off Montreal.

This goal capped off an unbelievable Game 7 with Tim Thomas preserving the chance for such late-game heroics.  From this moment forward, the Bruins were looked at as serious Stanley Cup contenders. Nathan Horton eternally put himself in Bruins lore with this magnificent slap shot, and eliminating the Habs had a lot to do with that.

It could have ended a lot worse though.

PK Subban had tied the game late in the 3rd period on a power play.

After that, there were a few chances for Montreal to win the game in overtime before Horton’s goal. If that were the case, the Bruins would never have been 2011 champions. Thanks to Horton though, we can still enjoy this nearly nine years later.

Tim Thomas Stick Save vs. Lightning, 2011

If anyone embodied the 2011 Bruins, it was Tim Thomas. And if any singular play embodied Tim Thomas as the Boston Bruins goaltender, it was this save against Tampa Bay in 2011.

With the series close and the game even closer, Thomas robbed Steve Downie of a game-tying goal when the net was wide open.

Stopping the puck with only his stick, Thomas was able to sprawl across his body and prevent Downie from redirecting the shot. To this day, it goes down in history as one of the signature moments of that Bruins championship and Thomas’ Conn Smythe trophy campaign.

Unfortunately, Tim Thomas was never able to return to glory for the Bruins beyond the 2011 season. However, his postseason résumé and legacy were forever sealed with that postseason performance. Thankfully we will always be able to relive this unbelievable save. Who knows, maybe Tuukka Rask will give Bruins fans a similar memory for 2020.

Patrice Bergeron’s Tying Goal and Game-Winner vs. Leafs, 2013

Most Boston Bruins fans will remember where they were watching this game back in 2013. After falling down 4-1 late in the third period of Game 7, the Bruins were able to tie the game with less than a minute to go and force overtime against the Toronto Maple Leafs. That is when Patrice Bergeron completed one of the greatest single-game comebacks in hockey history.

With the whole Garden crowd on its feet, he put a dagger in the hearts of Leafs fans forever.

Many had either left the arena or turned off their TVs, but for those who stayed tuned in, it quickly became a lifelong memory. At the end of the day, this was the best playoff moment of the decade. Winning the Cup in 2011 was amazing, but it ended very anticlimactically in a 4-0 win.

This comeback moment, on the other hand, signified everything we love about hockey and the city of Boston. Weeks after the Marathon Bombing, the region unified behind a common sense of resiliency. This team, and this game, and this sport gave us something to cheer for.

If the NBC telecast call wasn’t satisfactory enough, give a listen to NESN’s Jack Edwards. It definitely makes the hair stick up on the back of my neck.