(Best E Casino) - The Boston Bruins found a formula for success last season and it helped them earn a surprise trip to the playoffs.

Little was expected from the Bruins in 2007-08, but head coach Claude Julien led Boston to the postseason by implementing a strict team defense strategy. The new system worked, as the Bruins allowed just 222 goals en route to an 18- point improvement in the regular season.

Julien's club was the eighth and final squad to earn a playoff berth in the East last year, but went seven games with top-seeded Montreal before getting knocked out in the first round.

The Bruins didn't make any earth-shattering moves in the offseason so it appears the club will try once again to trap their way to a playoff berth. It may not be the prettiest style of play, but Julien certainly made it work in Beantown last year.

FORWARDS - The Bruins offense was led in 2007-08 by centerman Marc Savard, who followed up back-to-back 90-plus point seasons with 78 points (15 goals, 63 assists) in 74 games.

Savard also bought into Julien's defensive system and helped alter the perception that he was simply a one-way player.

Savard's linemate Marco Sturm was second on the Bruins in points with 56 and first on the club with 27 goals. Chuck Kobasew, who plays opposite Sturm on the top line, was the only other Boston player with 20-plus goals as he lit the lamp 22 times in 2007-08.

The Bruins are hoping to have a healthy Patrice Bergeron back this year after the young centerman was knocked out for the season after suffering a concussion just 10 games into the campaign. Bergeron, 23, had 73 points in 2005-06 and 70 the following season. He is expected to bring back a consistent scoring touch to the second line, which should feature Phil Kessel on and P.J. Axelsson on the wings.

Kessel notched 19 goals and 18 assists in his sophomore campaign for the Bruins last year and Axelsson had 13 goals and 29 points.

Boston took a flier on free agent winger Michael Ryder in the offseason, signing the former Montreal Canadien to a three-year, $12 million deal. Ryder registered 50-plus points in his first three NHL seasons, but last year had just 31 points (14g, 17a) and only played in four of Montreal's 13 playoff games. The Bruins hope Ryder can regain his scoring touch and help add some punch to their offense.

Milan Lucic is one of the few imposing physical forwards on the Boston roster at 6-4, 220 pounds. He posted 27 points (8g, 19a) and racked up 89 penalty minutes last season.

DEFENSE - The Bruins strength is on the blue line and the team's biggest asset, literally, is Zdeno Chara, a 6-9, 251-pound defenseman who gets it done at both ends of the ice.

Chara disappointed in 2006-07, his first season in Boston after signing a five-year, $37.5 million deal with the Bruins. However, Chara earned his pay a year ago, as he fit in perfectly with Julien's defense-first strategy.

The towering Slovakian led the team with a plus-14 rating and was also third on the team with 51 points (17g, 34a). As a result, Chara was named as one of three finalists for the Norris Trophy, awarded annually to the league's top defenseman.

Dennis Wideman is paired with Chara and likes to join the rush more than his counterpart. Wideman finished last year with 13 goals and 36 points and also sported a healthy plus-11 rating.

Mark Stuart, a first-round pick in 2003, is a rising star on the blue line for Boston, which will also give minutes to veteran rearguards Andrew Ference, Shane Hnidy and Aaron Ward.

GOALTENDING - The Bruins' stingy play last year helped starting goaltender Tim Thomas book a trip to his first All-Star Game.

Thomas was expected to back up Manny Fernandez entering the season, but the former University of Vermont backstop grabbed the starting job for good when Fernandez went down to injury early in the season.

The 34-year-old Thomas went 28-19-6 with a 2.44 goals against average and .921 save percentage in 2007-08.

Fernandez, who was signed prior to last season, is expected to be back in the rotation after playing just four games in 2007-08, while young Finnish backstop Tuukka Rask will likely remain with Boston's AHL affiliate in Providence for the time being.

WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE - The Bruins squeaked into the playoffs last year, but proved they belonged after taking heavy-favorite Montreal to the limit in a gritty seven-game series. The return of a healthy Bergeron should give the 2008-09 club a considerable boost on offense and, as long as the club can maintain the defensive strides it took last season, the Bruins should be headed back for another shot in the playoffs.