115 to go. Claude Julien now second on all time win list.

Mar 22, 2012; San Jose, CA, USA; Boston Bruins head coach Claude Julien stands behind the bench before the third period against the San Jose Sharks at HP Pavilion. San Jose defeated Boston 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Jason O. Watson-USA TODAY Sports

Last night, the Boston Bruins defeated the Florida Panthers 4-1. As an individual victory for the team, it has meaning. For head coach Claude Julien, it has a little bit more. Tonight’s win brings Claude Julien’s overall win total to 246. Last night he surpassed Milt Schmidt for second on the Bruins all-time win total for head coaches. For anyone in the Bruins organization to be compared to our own living legend, it has to be an awe inspiring. Joe Haggerty posted a Tweet with Coach Julien’s response.

“I certainly don’t perceive myself to be in the same category as Milt Schmidt,” Julien said after the game.  “You’ve got to understand, it’s a different era. Ties were ties, and that’s the way it ended. We play 82 games, I think they played somewhere around the 60 mark, if not less. A lot different era, it’s a number. It’s a number of wins, but certainly not ready to compare myself to him. I’ve got a tremendous amount of respect for Milt [Schmidt], and even for Grapes [Don Cherry]. Those guys have done a lot for the game. It’s something that’s nice, to know that you’re with them in regards to the number of wins, but certainly not willing to say I’m in the same category as them yet.”

Claude Julien took over as head coach on June 22, 2007. He is the twenty eighth head coach of the Boston Bruins. In his first season as coach, he led the Bruins back to the playoffs. He has brought the Bruins to the playoffs every year since. He’s also the coach that brought us the first Stanley Cup in a generation. Congratulations to Coach Julien on his achievement.  The Bruins will attempt to bring Julien one game closer to number one on Saturday afternoon in a game against the Washington Capitals.