It won’t come down to Game 82 this year.

Unlike the last two years where they had chances to improve its postseason positioning in the final week of the regular season, the Bruins pounced on their first opportunity to return to the playoffs with their 4-0 win over the Lightning.

No more looking behind at the teams trying to catch them in the standings. Instead, they can look forward to trying to stay in the top-3 of the Atlantic Division – and perhaps gain home ice in the first round.

For the time being, the Bruins are soaking in the moment and appreciating the fact that they’re one of 16 teams advancing for a chance to play for the Stanley Cup. And for a team that was once a Stanley Cup contender, getting to the first step is something that veterans like Patrice Bergeron aren’t taking lightly.

“I think in the past, especially in the years past where you kind of take it for granted a bit, it’s definitely something that you have to appreciate,” said Bergeron, who was the first NHL player since 2001 to go a perfect 17-for-17 from the faceoff circle. “It’s been two years and it’s been a long time coming for us, and there’s a lot of guys in this room that haven’t had a taste of it yet. So everyone should be excited just to be in it, and now be in position where we can improve our rankings, but at the same time you work hard all year for just to get in and have a shot.”

Rallying for one another is something the Bruins have been doing quite often since Bruce Cassidy – likely to have the interim label removed soon – took over for Claude Julien in early-February. In times of adversity, the Bruins have persevered. There is one moment that will be talked about often when looking back on the season.

At a time where the Bruins could have caved following Brad Marchand’s game misconduct for spearing Jake Dotchin in an area deemed not safe for work, the team overcame the loss of their leading goal-scorer.

“It’s never easy to lose one of your top players,” captain Zdeno Chara said about overcoming another battle of adversity. “It’s one of those things where you have to focus on the task [in hand]. You can’t change it – you wish you could – but once the call is made then boom, you’re just moving on.”

Moving on is exactly what the Bruins did.

First came their biggest penalty kill of the season. The execution of that shorthanded situation was flawless as the Bruins held Nikita Kucherov and company to two shots on their five-minute man advantage.

Then came the second period goals from Drew Stafford and David Pastrnak at 5:56 and 16:06 of the second period. In between that span, Tuukka Rask and the Bruins D weathered the Lightning’s best offensive surge and kept the 1-0 lead intact against another desperate hockey club.

Finally, the dagger. A power play goal from Chara at 9:12 of the third and Pastrnak’s second of the night on the empty netter put aside any doubt for a third straight season.

Game, set, match, playoffs.

“Your first goal is to get into the playoffs,” Cassidy said, “and from there, there’s obviously more that we’d like to get done in the next two nights and going forward. But that’s your first goal, and it’s been a couple of years, so there’s the sense of relief to be able to do it and then there’s the joy that goes with that. So we’re going to enjoy it, and go from there.”

The Black and Gold may be without Marchand for the rest of the regular season and perhaps the first game or two of the playoffs. Even without him, the only thing left to fight for in the next two games is seeding. After all, a first round matchup with the Maple Leafs or Senators is far more ideal than facing the Presidents’ Trophy winners out of the Metropolitan Division.

It may be difficult for the Bruins to improve their playoff positioning without Marchand, but it’s a fight they would take over the last two disappointments in early-April.

“Yeah, it’s tough. I mean, it was important for us to get this out of the way. The longer it goes, the more it weighs on your shoulders. But, I don’t think the guys really felt the pressure in here. It was important to get it, and now we can just move on,” said defenseman Torey Krug, who tallied the primary assist on Chara’s power play tally.

“Now, we have some other things to work on. We’ll continue to work on that and enter the playoffs on the right foot.”