It’s been a formula for success to the tune of 45 wins and 100 points. A season after missing the playoff for the first time in eight years, Sturm helped guide the Bruins back to the postseason, where they will face the Sabres beginning Sunday night.

“He’s consistent. There’s not a whole lot of surprises. I think by now, we can tell what he’s going to do by the predictability that he’s given us throughout the year,” said veteran forward Sean Kuraly. “Are we going to have a meeting? What’s going to be addressed? What are we going to practice? How long are we going to practice? What things is he going to harp on? What things does he want to see in our team? So, I think one of the most impressive things about Marco is his consistency.”

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After a three-season run behind the bench for the AHL’s Ontario Reign, where Sturm collected 119 wins and three playoff berths, he was given the reins in Boston.

It was a goal he had been working toward since his 14-year playing career ended in 2012. It was that time as a player — including five seasons as a Bruin — that helped him develop his coaching chops.

The combination of consistency and emotion on the ice made Marco Sturm an impact player in five seasons donning the Spoked-B uniform. Yoon S. Byun/Globe Staff

A fiery player, Sturm still flashes that emotion as a coach. Morgan Geekie sees similarity between Sturm and Rod Brind’Amour, his first NHL coach in Carolina, who also wore his heart on his sleeve as a player.

“I think when you play and then go into coaching, you have that fire and you know what it takes. And you know mistakes are going to be made and all that, but I’m sure it’s a little harder as a coach not being able to go out there,” said Geekie. “So, it’s great. I mean, he fires us up every time we go out there. And he’s familiar with the Bruins organization obviously, too. So, it’s super cool we could get the playoff berth for him, and obviously wouldn’t be where we are without him.”

Sturm arrived for the start of training camp with a plan in place. He would usher in a hybrid zone system similar to what he learned during his time in the Kings’ organization. Sturm knew there would be bumps in the road, but he preached staying the course and his players listened.

“It’s been a pretty good turnaround. He laid a good foundation for us,” said defenseman Nikita Zadorov. “Obviously, it’s up to the players to respond. And I thought we did a good job. We bought in right away and you got to give the credit to the guys in the room. They bought into the system.

“Maybe some guys would like to play more open hockey and be a more on-the-rush team instead of like playing grinding Boston Bruins hockey like we are. But everybody bought in: that’s why we are where we are right now — and we’re not done yet.”

Bruising Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov (91) says Marco Sturm “laid a good foundation” from the start that led the Bruins return to the NHL playoffs this season. Barry Chin/Globe Staff

Sturm hired Steve Spott to run his power play, and the two blended well with carryover assistants Chris Kelly, Jay Leach, and Bob Essensa.

After starting the season with three straight wins, the Bruins lost six straight. They responded by winning eight of their next nine. They hit the skids again in December, losing a half dozen in a row, and eight of 11. Again, they responded by winning eight of nine, and 12 of their next 15.

Sturm stressed trusting the process, and his players believed in him.

“We were talking about it recently. Sometimes we forget that it’s his first year as a head coach at the NHL level. Obviously he was a great player, but it kind of just shows what he brings to the table behind the bench,” said Geekie. “So, him and then Spotter and Kells and Leachy, they’ve done a great job for us all year.

“And yeah, I think the big one is just sticking to our game. We try to commit to that every time we step out there, and you see us struggle a little bit when we kind of get away from that. So he’s kind of instilled that pretty well in us, and just allowed us to go out there and rely on that when things start to go awry.”

Sturm was able to calmly navigate his players through the tough stretches — something that really resonated with Don Sweeney.

“It was certainly pointed out starting out the year. You win a couple, and then you lose six or seven while you’re out on the road. And you know you’re up against it, and you’ve got to bring the guys together because you can start to see a season get away from you,” said the general manager. “And that was certainly a touchpoint coming out of the break. Christmas time, we go out on the road, didn’t handle that [well]. So there were times of the year that Marco went back to his roots of communication, the teaching, without necessarily practice time. And that started to exhibit even while we were trying to clinch down the stretch here, right?

“We have a really, really good stretch (win six of seven to end March). We go down to Florida [to start April], we don’t play well (a 2-1 loss). Previously, before that, Toronto, we didn’t play well (a 4-2 home loss on March 24). So, there were pockets of games where you . . . I don’t want to say you expect to win, because the league is hard . . . but those are nights you should try and take advantage. Then you’ve got a really tough night the next night. Those were the times where Marco, the panic level, the consistency in his approach to the day, never deviated.”

Bruins general manager (right) says when times got tough during the season, that’s when coach Marco Sturm’s “consistency in his approach to the day never deviated.”Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff

Kuraly said Sturm became adept at reading the room and pushing the right buttons. Knowing when to lean into guys and when to lean on guys. He communicated with both honesty and humor.

“I think the coach is a tricky position. I think you’ve got to balance a lot of different personalities,” said Kuraly. “Even when the team’s winning, you’ve still got obviously guys that aren’t playing or guys that aren’t playing well.

“And yeah, I think he’s done a really good job of balancing being light, and understanding that there’s times that you maybe not take the foot off the gas but have a little fun. And also, being serious enough to come prepared and be ready to win games, because ultimately that’s the most fun thing we can do is win games.”

Jim McBride can be reached at james.mcbride@globe.com. Follow him @globejimmcbride.