That was a memorable game for a number of reasons, the biggest being that the Bruins stuck up for each other and fought as a team. It is remembered as the season-defining victory of a season in which the Bruins won 53 games and had the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.
A couple of years later, a similar night at the Garden has Bruins fans buzzing. It's worth wondering if Thursday's win over the Thrashers can serve as this year's season-defining victory.
It was Thursday that the reeling Bruins, who had just one win in their last five games, welcomed in a hot Thrashers team. Mark Recchi called it a must-win, and several Bruins players had expressed disappointment in the way the team had been playing. The city of Boston was ready for a big night, and the fans weren't disappointed.
Shawn Thornton dropped the mitts just 2 seconds into the game, Patrice Bergeron scored a shorthanded goal just minutes later, and the B's were in full control. Thornton contributed with a pair of goals, but the biggest event of the night came with 4:04 left in the game.
Freddy Meyers decked Milan Lucic with a high hit, and Andrew Ference had his back. A team-wide brawl broke out, with unlikely fighters Nathan Horton and Marc Savard turning in solid bouts. After Lucic got his revenge on Meyer, he skated past the Thrashers bench and challenged the entire team, well aware that a rematch would take place just a week later.
It was exactly the brand of hockey that Bruins fans yearn for. Is it an evening that can galvanize this unit and kick off a hot streak?
It sure did back in 2008-09, as the B's won that game against the Stars and an incredible 24 of 27 games. Might a similar run be in order for this year's team?
Share your thoughts below.
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