The champagne has been put away, at least for now.

Thursday night’s rollicking, rowdy party at Fenway Park is fading into the past, and the Red Sox are focusing on the future.

Major League Baseball’s regular season ends today, but the Sox are one of eight teams moving on to the championship tournament, playing for a chance to get into and win the World Series.

There was certainly some excess in the minutes and hours following Thursday night’s Wild Card clincher.

The Sox finished second to the Yankees for a record sixth straight time, and they partied like it’s 1999.

“This is a day to celebrate,” said Nomar Garciaparra in the clubhouse following the game. “We’re celebrating with the fans, we’re celebrating with each other. It’s a long season.

“(Friday) we need to start working again and focus. It’s the beginning of another season.”

It was a stark contrast from the Yankees, who clinched the A.L. East title earlier in the week and had a very muted post-game celebration.

Restraint comes easier when you’ve won three of the last five championships, and have 26 trophies in the case.

The display of emotion put on by the Red Sox drew some criticism in Boston, but Thursday night’s party was fitting for this team.

It’s a team that plays hard. The team felt a true sense of release after 159 games.

The clincher came on the final home game of the regular season, and the players wanted to share the moment with the fans. Many of them even went to a nearby tavern for a brief appearance, sharing hugs and high fives with the patrons.

“There’s been a lot of talk that maybe we celebrated too much,” said manager Grady Little. “That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. Whoever said that is probably someone who’s never been in that position before, or else it was someone who really didn’t want us to win.”

That rules out millions of New Englanders. This team is successful and likeable. It’s a good combination.

It reminds me of the Big, Bad Bruins of the early 70s, only not as dominant.

The sense of togetherness, the blue collar “grunts” who supplement the superstars, the way they hang out together away from the park it all adds up to a group of players that has grown in the hearts of the fan base.

Of course, all that could change quickly.

This team could be out of the playoffs by this time next week. I just don’t see that happening. Pedro Martinez is as healthy as he’s ever been, and should reap the benefits of being held back earlier in the season.

The offense is too good, and Derek Lowe and Tim Wakefield give the Sox the rotational depth they’ve lacked in past playoff appearances.

“We’ve got a new magic number,” said Red Sox Chairman Tom Werner following Thursday’s win. “It’s 11.”

That’s how many wins it will take for the Sox to win it all. And then you’ll see a celebration that’ll make Thursday night’s soiree seem like a formal dinner gathering.

Lewiston native Tom Caron covers the Red Sox for New England Sports Network.