Days before King Charles III was to be formally crowned in England, there was another coronation underway in Boston. Or at least that was the unmistakable vibe during Game 1 of the Boston Bruins' series against the Florida Panthers.
The 2022-23 Bruins were the most successful regular-season team in NHL history, setting new league records for wins (65) and points (135) in a single season. Even if you didn't believe they'd win the Stanley Cup, the Bruins' going on a playoff journey toward one felt like a certainty. Their first-round series against the Florida Panthers was like sitting through the previews before the real movie starts.