And then there were the Bruins. 

When the Celtics saw their season come to an end Wednesday night in Miami, Boston sports fans lost something they may have gotten comfortable with over the last few years. Game 5 of the conference semifinals was a bit soon for a team that had played longer in the previous three seasons, a span that has included two NBA Finals appearances and one championship. 

Given the Celtics’ recent success, which aside from the team’s loss in seven games to the Magic back in 2009 has seen the team play into June from 2008-10, they were the team to turn to for fans looking to see a deep playoff run this time of year. Now, it’s unfamiliar territory for today’s Boston sports fan. 

The elder statesmen of this Bruins team – Patrice Bergeron, Tim Thomas, Zdeno Chara and the lot – have seen the Celtics’ recent success just like everybody else. They’ve seen their own seasons end before those of the Celtics, as even when both teams had second-round exits in 2009, the C’s outlasted the B’s by three days. When there was a parade back in 2008, it featured no black and gold. 

With the B’s now the only team occupying the Garden, they can continue their postseason run knowing that anyone around these parts hungry to see a winner is watching them, and only them. By the time the puck is dropped for Game 1 of the conference finals against the Lightning, people will be just about done eulogizing the 2010-11 Celtics and will focus their attention on the Bruins’ push for a Stanley Cup. 

“We're noticing that the fans are very excited and they're very supportive. It's also exciting for us,” B’s captain Zdeno Chara said after Thursday’s practice at TD Garden. “It's just a great time right now to be the talk of the town and to see how people are so with us and so supportive. Obviously we can't control what's happening with other sports, but it's nice that we are where we are, and we have a great opportunity for us.”

Last year, when the Bruins blew a 3-0 series lead to the Flyers, Boston fans had an exciting Celtics run to the Finals against the Lakers to set their sights on. It would be another year without a Cup, but there was something else to watch. 

Yet when it comes to that elusive Cup, the Bruins know that fans are waiting on them in a way that doesn’t apply to other Boston teams. The Celtics won in 2008. The Red Sox won a World Series back in 2007, their second in four years. The Patriots won three Super Bowls in a span of four years between 2002 and 2005. The Bruins know that Boston has been waiting 39 years for the B’s to do what the Celtics did three years ago. 

"They're such a great team, and they've always made a great run, and showing how great of a team they are. Now it's kind of our turn to return the favor to all the fans and show them how good of a team we can be," Bruins rookie Brad Marchand said of the Celtics. "We really want to go all the way for them. They've been waiting a long time for a Cup, so hopefully we can deliver.

“It's been a long time. Every year's a different story, but this year we have a good opportunity ahead of us. We're one of four teams left here. We know that this opportunity doesn't come every year. We have to make sure that we don't let it slip.”

As has been well-documented, the last time the Bruins won a Stanley Cup was back in 1972. Were it not for Mark Recchi being on this team, one could say that no members of today’s team were even alive at the time. Either way, it’s been a while. Boston isn’t used to relying on the Bruins to bring hardware to these parts, but they are this town’s only shot at this point. Though they’re only halfway through the postseason, they will be the black and golden boys of Boston for as long as they can stay in it. 

“We know that we're the last remaining team going for a title right now,” Marchand said. “We know the whole city's behind us.”

The Celtics and Patriots both saw things end earlier than they would have liked this year. The Red Sox still haven’t been able to get their record to .500. Maybe, just maybe, this is year that the Bruins give Boston sports fans their fix of winning.

“We all want to be winners,” Chara said. “We all want to be accomplishing things. This is a great chance for us.”