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Claude Julien Praises Boston Sports Fans After Patriots' Playoff Elimination

BOSTON (CBS) -- Monday morning was a tough time for many Boston sports fans. Their Super Bowl dreams had been dashed Sunday night thanks to the Ravens' win over the Patriots, and there were no doubt many a sleepless night for football fans who couldn't shake the image of a delirious Ray Lewis from their heads.

Fortunately, though, the life of a Boston sports fans doesn't have too many dead periods, and the Bruins helped get everyone's minds off the Patriots on Monday afternoon with a 2-1 shootout win at the TD Garden.

Bruins coach Claude Julien spoke about his team's standing in the Boston sports scene after the game, and he acknowledged the Bruins have come a long way in recent years.

"Our team has climbed up the ladder a lot in the last few years," Julien said. "The respect that we once had and then lost, I think regaining it has been pretty important. What you gotta do in order to get that is give fans the type of hockey that they deserve to see. I think we're a hard-working team. Our guys are pretty focused on making sure we give the fans what they want and give the city what they deserve."

Julien said that just like most Boston sports fans, he was saddled up on the couch watching Tom Brady and Co. take on the Ravens on Sunday night.

"We're all big fans," Julien said. "[Sunday] I sat in front of the television all afternoon watching football. I was a big fan like everybody else and just as disappointed, but you have to turn around and say, 'OK, now it's our chance here to try and do something for the city.

"We're fortunate to have some good sports teams here in Boston," Julien added. "There's no doubt that the fans get spoiled, but they're such good fans and they fill every building up, so they deserve it."

Read more from Michael by clicking here, or find him on Twitter @michaelFhurley.

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