The 2010 Winter Classic at Fenway Park, however, could not have been more perfect for the Bruins and for the city of Boston.
The Bruins trailed the Flyers 1-0 in the closing minutes of the third period, putting one of the most anticipated events in the Bruins' storied history at risk of ending in major disappointment. The Bruins then got a tip-in goal from Mark Recchi with 2:18 left in the game to send it into overtime.
After Tim Thomas saved the game by stopping a 2-on-1 rush by the Flyers, the Bruins pushed the puck up the ice. Patrice Bergeron, who was named to Canada's Olympic squad earlier in the week, made a brilliant move in the offensive end, pulling up and finding Marco Sturm in front of the crease. Sturm redirected the pass past Philadelphia goaltender Michael Leighton, giving the Bruins a thrilling 2-1 overtime victory.
On Thursday, Recchi spoke of how playing at Fenway Park was unlike anything he's done in his 21 years in the NHL. His late goal became just the latest achievement added to his lengthy resume.
But for much of the third period, things weren't looking up for the Bruins or for Thomas. The goalie was the MVP of the Bruins in the first period, but it was his undisciplined mistake that put the Flyers ahead 1-0 early in the second period.
Scott Hartnell, who's made a career of getting under opponents' skin, did just that to Thomas by slipping his skate blade under the goaltender's right leg pad and knocking Thomas to the ice. Flat on his back, Thomas made a save on a shot from the faceoff circle by Jeff Carter.
Play continued and Thomas, obviously upset that Hartnell wasn't whistled for interference, threw a cross-check on the forward at the top of the crease. Just as Thomas vacated his spot between the pipes, Danny Syvret threw a shot on net and scored his first career NHL goal.
Out of the gate, the two teams came out flying, clearly feeding off the emotions of the day. Thomas only had to make six saves in the opening frame, but he faced some quality chances. Carter got a golden opportunity when he collected a rebound and flicked a backhander on net, but Thomas flashed his right toe just in time to turn him away.
As the teams lost their legs a bit in the shredded ice in the opening period's final minutes, Thomas turned away a Simon Gagne shot to keep the game scoreless after 20 minutes.
Also in the first period was the first fight in Winter Classic history, which was taken care of fairly early. Daniel Carcillo earned a decisive victory over Shawn Thornton just 12 minutes into the game, landing a heavy right on the B's scrappy fourth-liner.
The Bruins nearly tied the game in the third period when Sturm fired a slapshot on net from about 70 feet away from Leighton. The puck somehow snuck through the goalie's pads and bounced tantalizingly close to crossing the goal line. Instead, it hopped slowly away, tapping against the post before being covered up.
The B's then embarked on an offensive onslaught, unleashing a flurry of shots that either got blocked in front of the net or stopped by Leighton.
With 8:00 left on the clock in the third period, celebrities Denis Leary and Lenny Clarke, along with members of the Worcester Fire Department, tried to give the B's a boost by leading Fenway in a chorus of Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline."
It didn't have an immediate effect on the game, but the B's did play some inspired hockey down the stretch.
Though past Winter Classics have had lengthy delays due to ice repairs, this year's was not affected too badly. With 5:29 left in the first, there was a brief delay to repair a minor issue on the ice, and the "small scar" was fixed just once more in the opening minutes of the second period.
At the end of the game, with the sun set and the Fenway lights shining on the rink in the diamond, there was only one story: The Bruins won the Winter Classic.
In case you missed it the first time, NESN will be re-airing the 2010 Winter Classic on Wednesday, Jan. 13 at 7:30 p.m.
