* Playing in front of a sold-out crowd of 39,243 fans at the 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic, the Bruins staged a third-period comeback – and narrowly avoided what could have been a last-second tying goal by the Penguins – to claim their second victory at historic Fenway Park.
* The NHL announced that the Kraken will host the Golden Knights in the 2024 Discover NHL Winter Classic on New Year’s Day at T-Mobile Park, home of the Seattle Mariners.
* Steven Stamkos, Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews all can reach a “500” milestone during Tuesday’s 11-game slate.
DEJA VU AT FENWAY PARK: ANOTHER HOME RUN FOR THE BRUINS
The second Winter Classic at Fenway Park started much like the first one did in 2010, with Jeff Carter notching an assist on the opening goal for the visitors, and ended along the same lines as well, with the Bruins staging a late comeback win. After scoring a tying goal with 2:18 left on the clock at Fenway in 2010, Boston once again came through with a dramatic finish at the home of the Red Sox, this time with Jake DeBrusk netting both goals to complete the comeback.
* DeBrusk’s tally with 2:24 remaining in regulation was the fourth go-ahead game-winning goal scored in the final three minutes of the third period in NHL outdoor game history. With the 19th multi-goal performance in outdoor game history – and second by a Bruins player after the hat trick by David Pastrnak in the 2021 NHL Outdoors at Lake Tahoe – DeBrusk now has five goals in his past six games and is on pace for a career-high 36 tallies in 2022-23.
* The Bruins became the first team to stage a third-period comeback win in an outdoor game more than once, following their rally at Fenway Park 13 years ago. It also stood as the 100th third-period comeback win of the 2022-23 season and Boston’s fourth win outdoors (tied for the most all time). Check out Monday’s Live Updates for more #NHLStats on the Winter Classic.
FROM TD GARDEN TO FENWAY, THE BRUINS’ RUN CONTINUES
The Bruins improved to 19-0-3 as the home team in 2022-23. That marks the longest season-opening stretch of games with a point as the home team in franchise history – the Bruins posted a 19-0-2 run as hosts to begin the 1973-74 season, with all games played at Boston Garden.
* The list below details all season-opening home point streaks of 21+ games, including neutral site contests as the home club (Boston’s current stretch is the only one to include such a contest). It should be noted that home/road streaks on Records.NHL.com exclude neutral site games.
I WENT TO A BASEBALL GAME AND A HOCKEY GAME BROKE OUT…
Paying homage to the historic ties to baseball on both sides of the Winter Classic matchup, the Bruins and Penguins each arrived at Fenway Park in full kits inspired by the Boston Red Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates. Known for his flashy fashion, Bruins forward David Pastrnak impressed once again with a special edition stick and skates.
ORR DELIVERS “FIRST PITCH” TO VARITEK AT FENWAY
The NHL transformed the field for this year’s sold-out Winter Classic, paying tribute to baseball and highlighting the iconic Green Monster with both an NHL-regulation size rink constructed parallel to the famed left-field wall and an auxiliary rink in between, resembling a baseball diamond with dugouts and a faceoff circle at the pitcher’s mound.
* After ‘fist-bump kid’ Liam Fitzgerald welcomed the Bruins to the field, players lined up on the “Ice Diamond,” where a ceremonial puck drop – in the form of a first pitch – featured NHL legend Bobby Orr, former Red Sox captain Jason Varitek, longtime pitcher Tim Wakefield, as well as Bruins legends Zdeno Chara and Johnny Bucyk.
* Fans at Fenway Park also took in performances by GRAMMY Award-winning rock band The Black Keys, legendary R&B group Bell Biv DeVoeand renowned orchestra the Boston Pops, conducted by Keith Lockhart, and had a flyover from several F-15 jets from the 104th Fighter Wing of the Massachusetts Air National Guard.
* Bell Biv DeVoe then joined the Boston Pops on the orchestra stage for the singing of the U.S. national anthem, which also was interpreted in American Sign Language (ASL) as part of the NHL’s season-long partnership with P-X-P.
* The NHL’s 12th outdoor game at a baseball park also kept with tradition by putting a new spin on Red Sox staples like a crowd sing-along to “Sweet Caroline” and a hockey-themed edition of the seventh inning stretch featuring a rendition of “Take Me Out to the Hockey Game.” It even featured a fan catching a “foul puck” and saw Bruins netminder Linus Ullmark swing for the fences with an attempt at a goalie goal.
* ICYMI: This jaw-dropping drone tour of Fenway Park takes fans inside the locker rooms, around Pesky’s Pole and even inside the Green Monster during preparations ahead of the Winter Classic.
2024 WINTER CLASSIC HEADED TO SEATTLE, DISCOVER PARTNERSHIP EXTENDED
Commissioner Gary Bettman announced during the NHL on TNT pregame show that the 2024 Discover NHL Winter Classic will feature the NHL’s two newest franchises, the Kraken and Golden Knights, on Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, at T-Mobile Park, home of the Seattle Mariners. The game will once again be broadcast exclusively on TNT in the U.S. and on Sportsnet and TVA Sports in Canada.
* At the moment, the Kraken are one of five NHL clubs that have yet to contest a regular-season outdoor game. The Hurricanes are among that group (also ARI, CBJ & FLA) but will host the 2023 Navy Federal Credit Union Stadium Series on Feb. 18, the League’s 37th outdoor contest.
* In addition, Discover Financial Services and the NHL announced a multiyear extension of their U.S. partnership that includes Discover maintaining its status as the Official Credit Card and Official Bank of the NHL in the U.S. Click here for more information.
* ICYMI: The Maher family, who drove their Enterprise rental car 2,900 miles from Phoenix to Boston after their flights to the Winter Classic were canceled, were recognized in-arena during the game and will receive tickets to the 2024 Winter Classic in Seattle.
STAMKOS, MCDAVID, MATTHEWS HAVE 500 ON THEIR MIND TUESDAY
A trio of the game’s biggest names will look to start the new year on a high note as Tampa Bay captain Steven Stamkos, Edmonton captain Connor McDavid and Toronto forward Auston Matthews each close in on a “500” milestone.
* Stamkos (498-515—1,013 in 957 GP) enters Tuesday two back of his 500th career goal. The Lightning captain would become the first player in franchise history to reach the milestone and just the third active player across the League, joining Alex Ovechkin (806) and Sidney Crosby (536). Ovechkin and Crosby are among a group of 22 players in League history with at least 500 goals with one franchise.
* McDavid (271-498—769 in 525 GP) is two away from his 500th career assist and can require the fifth-fewest games in NHL history to reach the milestone. Only four players in League history have hit the mark within their first 550 games: Wayne Gretzky (352 GP), Mario Lemieux (433 GP), Peter Stastny (507 GP) and Bobby Orr (522 GP). To date, the fastest active player to 500 assists is Crosby (554 GP).
* Matthews (277-222—499 in 444 GP) is one shy of his 500th career point and can become the fastest in franchise history to accumulate 500 NHL points – the current benchmark is held by Darryl Sittler who hit the milestone in his 517th career game. The fastest a player has recorded 500 points in a Toronto uniform (at any stage of their career) is 495 contests. Of note, Mitchell Marner (152-345—497 in 464 GP) is also nearing the milestone.
