BOSTON -- The Boston Bruins winning record so far this season has ignited talk that the hockey team may be on track for its first Stanley Cup win since 1972.

"It's just great to see hockey being talked about again in Boston," said Bruins legend Cam Neely, who now works as the team’s vice president.

The New England Patriots last won an NFL championship in 2005. The Red Sox famously broke the curse. And the Celtics went from one of the worst teams in the NBA, to the best in 2008. Three teams, three world champions -- a hat-trick of sorts.

NewsCenter 5’s Liz Brunner reported Sunday if the Bruins win the NHL championship this year, the city of Boston would make history as the only place to have four professional sports teams win their league’s top honor within five years.

“Certainly I've heard it enough from the other professional sports franchises,” said Peter Chiarelli, Bruins general manager. “We strive to be like them in winning these championships, so it would be great, it really would be."

Neely played 10 seasons for the Bruins. His No. 8 retired jersey hangs in the rafters of the Garden. Though he now works in the team’s front office, many attribute the current team’s success to its old style of play. Neely, in particular, was known for his physical style on the ice.

“I obviously have an affinity or affections towards that type of play. There's an element of that game that people in Boston, especially, like to see,” said Neely. “They want to see their teams work hard, they want to see them play hard, they want to see them sticking up for themselves and sticking up for each other, and that's what we've got this year."

“It’s by design that we've got players like that,” said Chiarelli, the architect of the Bruins current young roster.

“There's nothing fancy, you know, there's no secret recipe, it's just let's bring in character people, let's do a good job, let's put in a good system, let's get it done. We spent last year getting an identity -- hard working, gritty. And I think the fact that we show up every night, I think the fans really relate to it."

Most nights the Bruins play at home, the Garden is sold out. Sales of Bruins merchandise at the pro shop are up 40 percent over last year, and many jerseys with the team’s new bear logo are completely sold out.

"Luch, number 17, is certainly flying off the store shelf,” said Amy Latimer, senior vice president of sales and marketing. “Mark Saravard, Kessel is a big one, and our Captain. The team on the ice is certainly helping push the Bruins back to the forefront of the Boston sports scene."

The 37-year hockey championship drought is not the longest this team, or this city, has endured.

"We're headed in the right direction, this year's going a little bit better than we expected," said Neely. “It’s been a team effort, not just on the ice, but also off the ice."

Brunner asked Neely, “So as you look up, and see all those banners that are hanging up there, how nice would that be to throw another one up there?”

“That would be sweet,” said Neely. “And it would be a long time coming and the fans certainly deserve it."

Some fans speculate that Bruins coach Claude Julien might be named Coach of the Year.