BOSTON–Boston has not been the “hub of hockey” since the 70s when Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito were drinking from Lord Stanley’s Cup. Besides the early 90s when the Bruins finished first in the Eastern Conference and made a finals appearance, there hasn’t been much to get excited about. Just plenty of early round playoff exits and major disappointment.In recent years, the TD Banknorth Garden has drawn better attendance for children’s ice shows, such as Mickey and Minnie’s Magical Journey. I understand that the last Bruins championship parade through Boston was 1972, but they should at least outdraw Mickey Mouse.

With the Red Sox recent exit from the post-season by the new look Tampa Bay Rays, normally Boston sports fans would turn their attention to the Patriots. Only every time I tune in to see Tom Brady and the Patriots high flying offense, I get some guy named Casell who looks like he hasn’t started a meaningful game since high school. Since this is an actual reality with Tom Brady going down only 19 minutes into the season and having a starting quarterback who usually carries a clipbord, there has been no better time to watch Boston Bruins Hockey.

Yes that’s correct, no need to put your bifocals on, I just wrote that the best sports fans in the world should come out in huge number and support the black and gold. New England has always had deep roots in hockey. With numerous college powerhouses and prep schools, there’s plenty of New Englanders who love lacing up the skates. Just not many who enter the Boston Garden and pay to see the Bruins play. At least that was the case until last Saturday’s game against the Dallas Stars.

Since the NHL lock-out that erased the 2004-2005 season, Boston sports fans have enjoyed two World Series championships, an NBA finals championship, and two trips to the Super Bowl. This made it very easy for the Bruins to slip out of the spotlight, losing support amongst fans because of poor play. Three years later it took two of the most hated agitators in the NHL to light a fire under both players and fans, making for the most entertaining Bruins game in nearly five years. Dallas Stars aggravators Sean Avery and Steve Ott started fight night in Boston, both taking cheap shots on Bruins players.

Throughout the game, Ott went for the knees on body checks and started fights he couldn’t finish. This angered Bruins fans, who wanted nothing better than Ott to get pounded for making a mockery of the game. Boston scored three times in a wild, fight-filled third period. Avery went at it with the Bruins’ Andrew Ference, followed by a bout between Shawn Thornton and the Stars’ Krystopher Barch. The fighting was capped by a major brawl with eight minutes left that involved several players from both teams. This is the excitement that Bruins games were missing in recent years and the team received a standing ovation from the Boston crowd. The Bruins proved to their fans that they wont back down from anyone and will stick up for each other when needed.

Since the game against Dallas, the Bruins have regularly averaged over 15,000 fans per game and are 10-3-3, good for first place in the Northeast Division. Still many Boston sports fans won’t give the Bruins a chance, because they haven’t seen the team play this year. This needs to change and with exciting players like Phil Kessel and Marc Savard, forgive me for sounding like Barack Obama but change is on the way.

First off, the Bruins have a “raw” Cam Neely clone in Milan Lucic and when he drops the gloves is worth the price of admission alone. Also, Phil Kessell is emerging as a top goal scorer lighting the lamp in impressive fashion. This kid has speed that can get fans on their feet and a scoring touch that can keep them from sitting down. There is a buzz around the Garden that hasn’t been there in years and it seems to grow with every passing victory.

Inside the Boston Garden, the Bruins Pro Shop is crowded after a 6-1 win against the rival Montréal Canadians. Amongst the giant crowd is 23-year-old Pro Shop worker Louis Navarro, who had this to say about the Bruins recent success. “This place has not been this excited about the Bruins in years. Fans are coming into the shop in huge numbers talking about how well the Bruins are playing. You can see the excitement on their faces, because this is a hockey town and the Bruins just needed to give fans something to cheer about.” Fans like Michael Moretti, a 18-year season ticket holder from East Boston, Mass., have never lost passion for the Bruins. “I’ve been coming to Bruins games my whole life and for the last five years I would have to call my friends and family to see if they wanted to come to a game with me. After last Saturday’s game against the Stars, they’re calling me for tickets. The fan base has definitely woke up and realized this is a very exciting team to watch.”

Not everyone has caught Bruins fever and Suffolk University student Steve Canty is an excellent example of someone who hasn’t been watching the Bruins. “The Bruins are terrible and have been that way for a long time. I can’t watch a team who loses every night it’s very boring.” Clearly there are still Bostonians who have not realized the Bruins recent success and new style of hockey. They are scoring goals with ease, getting great goaltending, and will fight when necessary.

So there you have it. The Red Sox are playing golf, the Patriots are not as exciting to watch, and the Celtics can’t possibly be on every night. So Bostonians, give the Bruins some love. There has been no better time to do so.