Boston Bruins sets new NHL record for single-season wins

Boston Bruins celebrates their win against the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday, April 9, 2023, in Philadelphia.Photo byChris Szagola/AP via CNN

The Boston Bruins defeated the Flyers 5-3 on Sunday at Philadelphia's Wells Fargo Center to break the previous NHL single-season record for victories with 63 wins.

David Pastrnak of the Boston Bruins scored three goals, giving him a total of 60 goals this season, second only to Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers (64).

Pastrnak said of the season: "It's been a lot of fun, I'm not going to lie. It's been enjoyable, especially [with] the group we have here. We obviously knew the stakes, and it's definitely special to hit it in a game like this. [We] Made history today in the biggest league in hockey."

The Bruins entered the game tied in wins with the 1995–96 Detroit Red Wings and the 2018–19 Tampa Bay Lightning. They ended the game as the first team in NHL history to post 63 victories in a single regular season.

According to ABC News, going into the game, the Bruins were tied for the same number of victories with the 1995–96 Detroit Red Wings and the 2018–19 Tampa Bay Lightning. They won 63 games in a row to finish the game as the first team in NHL history to do so.

John Tortorella, the Flyers coach, stated, "They had some people out. But still, that's a really good hockey team."

With 131 points currently on the board, Boston is closing in on the 1976–1977 Montreal Canadiens' record of 132 points for the most points in a single season, according to ESPN. The Bruins' final two games are against the Washington Capitals at home on Tuesday and the Montreal Canadiens on the road, which could be quite poetic.

Jim Montgomery, the coach of Boston, said on Saturday, "I think they grasp [the moment], because we're talking about the history of the NHL and how long this league has been here." "I think they grasp it, like when [Wayne] Gretzky broke [Gordie] Howe's record. Our group is aware of what we're doing as a team," he continued.

The 2022–23 NHL season has been completely dominated by Boston. It has successfully clinched the Presidents' Trophy with the best record in the league and secured home-ice advantage throughout the postseason.

The Bruins are the fourth team in the NHL's modern era to lead its division standings for the entire season, following the 1984–85 Oilers, the 1977–78 Canadiens, and the 2008–09 San Jose Sharks, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.

The Bruins also broke NHL records by becoming the fastest team to reach 50 victories (64 games) and 100 points (61 games).