Mar 22, 2012; San Jose, CA, USA; Boston Bruins left wing Brian Rolston (12) warms up before the game against the San Jose Sharks at HP Pavilion. San Jose defeated Boston 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Jason O. Watson-USA TODAY Sports

Former Bruins’ player Brian Rolston announced on Tuesday that he has decided to retire from the game of hockey after 17 years in the league. In his elongated career, he has played for five teams, the New Jersey Devils (twice), Colorado Avalanche, Boston Bruins (twice), Minnesota Wild and the New York Islanders.

Rolston’s first stint with the Bruins lasted from 1999-2004. During that time period, he recorded a total of 236 points with 101 goals and 135 assists. His second try with the Bruins came in 2011-12. That year, he played in 21 games recording 15 points with 3 goals and 12 assists.

Unfortunately, Rolston did not end up on a roster this season. No team wanted to take a chance on the 40-year old veteran in this condensed season. He ended his notorious career playing in 1,256 games recording 761 points (342 goals and 419 assists).

“Getting the chance to play the game I love for 17 years has truly been a dream come true,” said Rolston. “My career has taken me to many great places where I had the privilege to play with some exceptional teammates and in the best league in the world. The memories of all my experiences will certainly stick with me for the rest of my life. I am grateful for the overwhelming support of my friends, family and fans throughout my career.”

He will most be remembered by his deadly slap shot and lightning quick speed. With those skills, he helped the New Jersey Devils win their first Stanley Cup in 1994-95 and also was a member of Team USA in the Winter Olympics in 1994, 2002 and 2006.

Everyone here at Causeway Crowd wishes Brian the best of luck in his future away from the game.

Mar 22, 2013; Toronto, ON, Canada; Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara (33) battles against Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Colton Orr (28) at the Air Canada Centre. The Maple Leafs beat the Bruins 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

As is usually the case with most professional sports teams, it was a bit of an up and down season for the Boston Bruins. In my opinion they had more ups than downs, however with the way people talk around Boston you would think it was the other way around but I get where they’re coming from.

Too many times this season the Bruins routinely blew third period leads, usually caused by costly turnovers or uncharacteristically bad defensive lapses. Whatever the reasons the Bruins found ways, often times making an art out of it like only a team from Boston can do, to lose games they probably should have won.

There was also too many stretches of lazy play along the way, something this team cannot afford. In order for the Bruins to win games and be successful they have to play a hard, emotion-filled game and outwork their opponent. Often times that just wasn’t the case for the Bruins.

With that said, they still had a chance to win the Northeast Division and clinch the 2nd overall seed in the playoffs. Now I know they didn’t win that game, didn’t win the division and didn’t clinch the 2nd seed. My point is how bad of a season could it really have been if the team finished 5th overall in the NHL standings and was a point away from winning the division? How has the vibe around this team gotten so negative? The answer is simple, it was a tale of two-halves for the Bruins.

In the first 24-games of this lockout shortened 48-game NHL season, the Bruins came flying out of the gate and were a scorching 17-4-3. They were playing “Bruins hockey” and all was right in the world.

Then, in the last 24-games of the season something changed, it was like the Bruins hit the cruise-control button and stumbled to an ugly 10-11-3 finish. Not exactly the kind of thing you want to see from your team headed into the playoffs.

Is it something that can be fixed or are the Bruins headed for another one-and-done playoff run? Personally I believe they’ll be fine, this is a team that is loaded with talent, grit and guys who know what it takes to win. Lets not forget the core of this team is riddled with proven playoff performers, but you can’t just start playing inspired hockey overnight. You can’t just “flip the switch” as they say and I don’t believe the Bruins will have to, they’ll have plenty of help in doing that.

This team should have all the motivation they need to start playing the type of hockey they need to be playing in order to get back to the promised land. From the remaining sting from last years early playoff exit, to Jarome Iginla choosing the Pittsburgh Penguins instead of Boston, all of it combined with the fact that their first round opponent will is the Toronto Maple Leafs and it should do more than just light a fire under the Bruins.

The Maple Leafs are an Original-6 team, like the Bruins, and are also a Northeast Division rival. The games between these two this past season were often physical and filled with that good kind of nasty.

They were hard-fought and spirited affairs of which the Bruins often found themselves on the winning end of, because those are the kind of games the Bruins excel in. The Bruins need to be challenged and they need to be ticked off to build up the kind of emotion that is needed to play their brand of beat-them-up and drag-them-out kind of hockey. That was just the regular season however, and we all know that means nothing once the postseason starts. But the bad-blood that already exists between these two teams will help the Bruins find their game, hopefully sooner rather than later.

Like the title states, the playoffs the perfect time for the Bruins to turn the page on the regular season and put all the doubts about their abilities to rest. Nothing can make people forget about a Jekyll and Hyde type of season faster than postseason success.

March 17, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (63) skates up ice with the puck against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the third period at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Pittsburgh Penguins won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

After a game filled with many emotions on Wednesday night, the Boston Bruins get a chance to redeem themselves in front of their home crowd against the top seeded Pittsburgh Penguins.

The entire city of Boston tuned in to the Bruins game on Wednesday night. As the whole crowd sang the national anthem, it sent chills down my spine, along with the Bruins fan base and everyone in the country who was looking on. Unfortunately, the B’s came up short as they conceded a goal in the final minute, and eventually lost in a shootout. The Bruins effort cannot be overlooked. They fought hard through the entirety of the game, but unfortunately could not hold on.

On Friday night, the first place Pittsburgh Penguins will come to the Garden for possibly the most anticipated matchup of the year. Ever since the “Jerome Iginla fiasco” in late March, every Bruins fan has had this game circled on the calendar.

Jerome Iginla’s decision to go to Pittsburgh over Boston caused many Bruin fans to become angry. Everyone was looking forward to having the veteran forward play in the Black and Gold until he suddenly changed his mind. That is why this is a game that everyone has been looking forward to. Boston will look to show Iginla that he made the wrong choice. Although Boston missed out Iginla, the addition of Jaromir Jagr has worked out nicely if you ask me. Jagr is averaging a point per game in his time at Boston.

Most fans, including myself, are on the fence if Boston is capable of making a deep run in the playoffs with the way they have been playing as of late. To me, this is a perfect chance to change the opinions of fans and make a statement by coming out and beating the Pittsburgh Penguins.

It is probable that Swedish icon, Carl Soderberg will make his Bruins’ debut on Friday night. After a long wait, he is finally here and Coach Claude Julien feels he is ready to play. He will be put to the test right away, as he faces a hard-nosed Penguins team who is looking to lock up the number one seed in the Eastern Conference. If practice on Thursday morning was any indication, it looks like Milan Lucic will be a healthy scratch for Friday night’s game. During Thursday’s practice, he was put on the fifth line, in green jerseys along with Kaspars Daugavins and Jay Pandolfo. He has been off his game all season, lacking confidence and the physical presence that he usually brings to this team. I think Coach Julien should have done this move earlier, but hopefully this wakes him up for the playoffs.

This will certainly be a classic with a lot of emotions for many different reasons.

Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. ET in Boston.