Shawn Thornton returned “home” Tuesday, and it was a special night for the former Boston Bruins enforcer.
Thornton played at TD Garden as a visitor for the first time, as his Florida Panthers fell 2-1 to the Bruins in overtime.
The outcome wasn’t what Thornton hoped for, but it still was a memorable night. The Bruins honored Thornton with an in-game video tribute looking back on his seven years in Boston.
“It’s pretty touching, you know. … To get a standing ovation in a visiting arena is pretty special, and I appreciate it,” Thornton said after the game. “The fans have always been great to me here, and again tonight. It’s pretty nice.”
Thornton admitted that once the puck dropped, things were fairly normal despite so many ex-teammates on the other side of the ice. But there was no denying this game was a little different than most.
“I enjoyed it, I embraced it,” Thornton said. “Listen, I’m really appreciative of the way I was treated when I came in here. I had a great seven years, and tonight was very nice of them to give me that tribute and get that standing ovation. They didn’t have to do that. I just wish we could have won, but as far as getting it over with, I enjoyed it, I was looking forward to it, and it was everything and more.”
Thornton’s ex-teammates also appreciated the moment. Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask, one of Thornton’s best friends in the Boston dressing room, was happy to see the former Boston enforcer receive a warm welcome.
“It was great. I think it was the loudest this year by far in the building,” Rask said. “It was kind of emotional there seeing all those moments we spent together and had together.”
Rask, of course, also was happy Thornton didn’t do what he said he wanted to do — score a goal on the Bruins goalie.
“I’m happy we won; he played a lot of minutes today, and I’m happy he didn’t get that goal,” Rask said.
Photo via Michael Dwyer/Associated Press
