Undefeated in regular time at home since the start of the season, the Boston Bruins successfully defended another local stronghold on Monday afternoon, beating the Pittsburgh Penguins 2-1 at Fenway Park in the Winter classic.
Conditions were perfect on Jersey Street, the mecca of baseball. With a feeling of 9 degrees Celsius, no snowfall and a mostly overcast sky, the players of both teams could play in optimal conditions.
The spirit was festive for the 39,243 spectators, and the tradition was invited in the corridors of the stadium, from the arrival of the players to the opening ceremony.
Patrice Bergeron and his gang arrived at the game dressed in retro 1930s Red Sox uniforms, while B-Town legends Johnny Bucyk, Bobby Orr and Zdeno Chara were introduced to the crowd.
DeBrusk plays the heroes
At each away match, the teams must go through an adaptation period. The ice and boards can be capricious in this kind of custom installation, the players did not offer a show to break everything at the start of the meeting. Although their favorites got a few scoring chances, the spectators couldn’t get enough of anything except clam chowder or a local beer.
If the locals came out even duller in the second period following the performance of the group The Black Keys at intermission, the Fenway anthem seemed to motivate Jim Montgomery’s troupe.
“Sweet Caroline” rang out in the second period rather than the seventh, and the Bruins players weren’t the same after that rallying chant.
They have made up for several deficits this season. The best team in the National Hockey League was therefore not going to panic because Kasperi Kapanen had given the Penguins the lead in the second period. “It was unreal, revealed Kapanen after the meeting. It was a fantastic atmosphere and a special moment. »
Jake DeBrusk certainly helped to improve this atmosphere by scoring twice in the third period to give the victory to his team. Posted in his favorite place, both feet planted in front of the net, the winger pushed the disc twice behind Casey DeSmith, who came to relieve Tristan Jarry, injured in the first period.
It’s a feeling that’s hard to describe. I am speechless. This is without doubt the highlight of my life so far. […] I can only smile and enjoy the moment.
Jake DeBrusk, after the game
DeBrusk is unrecognizable this season. Just a year ago he was looking for himself and he asked to be traded because he didn’t like the way he was being used. The organization refused to compromise him and made him sign a transitional contract of two years and eight million dollars. New head coach Jim Montgomery has paired him with Bergeron and Marchand on the first unit, and the trio are getting along wonderfully.
“He’s a lot stronger and more committed than people say,” Montgomery said after the game.
He produces like the first-round pick he was in 2015. He scored his 15e and 16e goals in Monday’s game. He therefore crosses the mark of 30 points at his 36e game of the season. He is just 12 points off his personal best.
The comfort of home
If some saw them outside the portrait of the playoffs at the start of the campaign, the Bostonians are still undefeated in regular time at home at the turn of the new year. This is their 19e victory in 22 games.
In the event of a loss, it would have been easy to blame the fact that the Bruins weren’t really playing at home. They didn’t play a perfect game either. In the second half, they were clumsy, disoriented and messy. More than once, the men in black have collided.
However, there is something magical about Fenway Park. Like in the first game there, in 2010, when Marco Sturm gave the home side victory in extra time under the reflectors of the greenish stadium.
Lethargic Penguins
The situation of the Penguins is quite different. Mike Sullivan’s troupe has just suffered a fifth consecutive defeat. With the possible loss of their number one keeper to a lower body injury, their situation could get worse.
Out of action from start to finish, Pittsburgh’s big guns were unable to make a difference. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin knocked on the door only in the final seconds of the game. They had to come up against a Linus Ullmark in full possession of his means, repelling 26 of the 27 shots aimed at him.
Kristopher Letang in mourning for his father
Kristopher Letang had to return to Quebec just hours before the start of the Winter Classic.
The team announced that Letang’s father passed away within the last few hours. He therefore returned to Montreal to join the other members of his family.
Injured, the 35-year-old defender was not to take part in the match.