It wasn’t the ending they wanted, but the Bruins should be proud of themselves despite failing to advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Sunday’s overtime loss on home ice was the final nail in coffin as the Bruins’ season ended abruptly, but it certainly wasn’t due to a lack of effort.

From the slew of injuries to players making their NHL and playoff debuts to some breaks going the other way on the ice, the Bruins did a great job facing adversity and found ways to fight through some things that did not go their way.

“Well, I think it was apparent to everybody that we weren’t at full strength, and guys had to step up, and we talked about it. Other guys got an opportunity,” interim head coach Bruce Cassidy told the media following their Game 6 overtime loss.

“I thought they did very well. So, yeah, I’m proud of the guys’ effort from February 9 on. We put ourselves in a position to be here in the first place. I think we played well enough to have the opportunity to advance, but they made a few more plays than us. Every game could have went either way. So, I’m proud of the players.”

Trailing in the series three games to one and in front of a hostile home crowd in Ottawa for Game 5, the Bruins did what they had done all series long; erase a Senators lead and battle back toughly. It paid off in the means of a double overtime victory.

Game 6 was much of the same as they erased a third-period deficit to force overtime. Only this time, the bounce went the other way.

“That’s hockey, and unfortunately we missed some guys, but very proud of, you know, how we battled, how we never gave up. We came back multiple times every game, almost, and it’s fun to play when you know that there’s that never give up attitude, you know,” captain Zdeno Chara said.

“Everybody did whatever it took to get that, you know, extra push, extra goal. You know, I’m very happy for many guys who had their first experience of playing the playoffs. This is the most fun hockey time they can experience, so I’m very happy they did.”

The Bruins played the season with a young lineup, but thanks to the handful of injuries suffered just prior to and during their series with the Senators, they were forced to get a little younger. From Charlie McAvoy to Sean Kuraly, the experiences gained in this series can only help these young players moving forward.

“A lot of guys came in the lineup with not much experience and were asked to play a different role and they did it. It was impressive to see that and it was next man up every time and I think it was great experience for the young guys for sure,” said Patrice Bergeron, who finished the series with three points.

In a series that saw six one-goal games, things could easily have been different for the Bruins. But when the wounds start to heal and the Bruins sit back and reflect on what they did this season, they know that the season was a success despite a first-round playoff exit.

“Yeah, I mean, it’s a group that really came together. I think down the stretch after the coaching change, to get into the playoffs down the stretch, it’s six one-goal games and we’re just on the wrong side of four of them unfortunately before we could get on the right side of four of them,” said David Backes. “Overtime, penalty kill, it’s almost the summation of all of the series and how it’s gone.”

After making the playoffs for the first time in three seasons and a bunch of young talent on the roster or in the pipeline, things can only go up from here for the Boston Bruins.

“Yeah, I think the experience factor is something that we can’t overlook. A lot of the guys never get to play in the playoffs but the young guys who did have to get the experience and learn from it and when the next time comes be more prepared and more experienced and ready to go,” said Tuukka Rask who was the Bruins’ best player in the series.

“But a lot of the guys who have never played in a playoff game battled really hard showing they can play at this level.”