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Tim Thomas makes one of his 28 saves for the Bruins during their 3-2 victory Monday night against Toronto.

They've watched the Patriots win three Super Bowls, the Red Sox win two World Series, and the Celtics hoist an NBA championship banner in the building they cohabit. Now, the Bruins think they're ready to join the other Boston teams as a legitimate candidate for a deep playoff drive.

The Bruins have the second-best record in the Eastern Conference, four points behind the New York Rangers, after their 3-2 win Monday at Toronto. They've picked up 19 of a possible 22 points over the last 11 games, with just two losses – one in a shootout – in that stretch.

They have been the most overlooked team in Boston the past 10 years, and for good reason. With the team's run over the past few weeks, though, that's starting to change.

"I think we're an exciting team to watch," said goaltender Tim Thomas. "Even from the bench, in the games that I'm watching, we're an exciting team. I can feel it."

Thomas hasn't been on the bench very often. The former University of Vermont goalie has the lowest goals-against average and highest save percentage in the NHL.

Not bad for a guy who started his career in the low minors and had to play in Finland and Sweden before ever getting an NHL start.

Together with Manny Fernandez, Thomas is part of a goaltending tandem featuring a pair of 34-year-olds who have played more games in the minors and Europe combined than in the NHL. They have given up the fewest goals in the league.

They also provide veteran leadership on a team filled with young players. Five of the Bruins' top nine scorers are 23 or younger.

Playing well to start the year is one thing; bringing the buzz back to the TD Banknorth Garden is another. These young Bruins have reminded us why hockey is such a great game to see live.

Whether it's beating up on the Dallas Stars in a 5-1 win that included 146 penalty minutes or crushing the Montreal Canadiens in a 6-1 blowout, Boston has made the most of its home games.

The Bruins also have a 20-year old bruiser in the mold of some of the hardest-working players to ever wear the uniform.

Milan Lucic has put his 6-foot-4, 220-pound frame front and center on this team. His five goals and nine points don't tell the whole story. He leads the team in penalty minutes and puts in maximum effort every shift. Twenty years ago, he would've been the Gallery Gods' favorite.

Twenty years. It's been nearly that long since the Bruins made it to the Stanley Cup finals.

The Bruins' loss to Edmonton in the 1990 championship series was their second trip to the finals in three years. They haven't been back since.

In fact, they've won just one playoff series in the past 14 years. The Bruins organization will have to forgive fans if they're a little slow to jump on the bandwagon.

Cam Neely was a bruising young forward the last time the Bruins made it to the Stanley Cup finals. Now, he's the team's vice president.

He watched the team come close to advancing to the second round last season, only to be beaten in Game 7 by the Canadiens. He watched the Bruins battle back in Game 6, the best playoff game at the Garden in 10 years.

"We had a lot of guys who hadn't played in the playoffs yet, so to have that atmosphere in Boston is a nice taste for them," said Neely.

"We want them to crave getting that feeling back. Then, to have that opposite feeling when you lose Game 7 and be done for the season, it's good to have that contrast for these guys to understand that it was great to win and it (stinks) to lose.

"From a growth standpoint it was good for a lot of our young players."

Those young players have shown tremendous growth this season. There's a long way to go, but it's OK to pull that black and gold jersey out of mothballs once again.

Tom Caron is the studio host for Red Sox broadcasts on the New England Sports Network. His column appears in the Press Herald on Tuesdays.