NESN

Bruins Classic Showdown: Lemieux’s Debut Versus Ruzicka’s Playoff Heroics

What's the greatest Bruins game ever broadcast on NESN?

That's up to you.

We've narrowed the bracket down to eight finalists, and now it's your turn to vote over the next eight weeks to select the No. 1 heart-stopping, gut-wrenching, iconic Bruins game since NESN became the home of the Black and Gold.

This week's matchup features two legendary Pittsburgh games: Mario Lemieux's 1984 NHL debut versus Rosie Ruzicka's show-stopping overtime goal in Game 6 of the 1991 conference finals.

The legendary Lemieux made his professional debut on Oct. 11, 1984 against the Boston Bruins, and while Pittsburgh fans doubtlessly expected  a lot from a No. 1 overall draft pick — and the recipient of the largest contract ever awarded to a rookie — they likely weren’t expecting him to score a goal on the first shift of his first game.

He finished his rookie season with 43 goals and 57 assists, the third-highest points total achieved by any rookie in the history of the NHL. Lemieux finished the year with a Rookie of the Year trophy, an MVP trophy from his first career All-Star game, and the renewed hopes of the franchise resting squarely on his shoulders. And to think it all started against the Bruins.

Seven years later, the B's squared off against the Pens in the playoffs. The 1991 Wales Conference Finals did not go well for Boston, and the horror was epitomized by a demoralizing Game 6 loss to the Penguins.  Despite facing a Pittsburgh squad that had won at the Boston Garden just six times in its last 50 games, the Bruins could not pull out a series victory, but Game 2 represented the lone bright spot in the set.

The Bruins took Game 1 by a score of 6-3 but fell flat throughout much of Game 2. After Lemieux put Pittsburgh ahead late, the Bruins struck back on a 5-on-3 power play to tie the game in the third quarter, setting up Ruzicka’s overtime lamplighter which afforded Boston a 2-0 series lead.

Now it's your turn to kick off the voting. Don't forget to stay tuned and make sure that your game makes it through to the finals. 

Click here to submit your vote.