LOADING

Type to search

  • Even in balmy climes, Winter Classic retains its charm

    Daily News

    Even in balmy climes, Winter Classic retains its charm

    Bob Snow January 1, 2016
    Share

    (Photo by Bob Snow, Bruins Daily)

    FT. LAUDERDALE, FLA — It’s an hour before faceoff in the eighth annual Winter Classic at Gillette Stadium.

    Bundle-up and hot-chocolate time in Foxboro with 40-something Fahrenheit on the thermometer at puck drop. Quite the opposite 1500 miles south where it’s take it (almost) all off, while the liquids of focus are SP30 and marguerites amidst azure blue and 82.

    Take a survey beach side of interest in the Winter Classic and it’s almost as polar opposite.

    At one end: “Never heard of it,” said Hans from Germany about the Winter Classic. “But I know about Blackhawks.”

    “They play hockey outdoors?” said Son from Houston via the Philippines. “How they keep the ice cold?”

    At the other: “Absolutely I’m watching it,” Ron, a Toronto transplant said. “I live in paradise. It doesn’t get any better than sunshine and hockey.”

    “Oh yeah I’m watching it,” Howard Berkowitz, a Swampscott native and now Floridian said while ordering a cold one. “We all have ties to the northeast here.”

    One unique and significant subplot to Friday’s epic was referenced beach side by Ft. Lauderdale resident Charles. “I am going to watch the Winter Classic; just good fun hockey. But I’m a Panthers’ fan so it would be good if they were playing, but nobody going to put the Panthers in the Winter Classic.”

    Maybe not. But after their most successful month in team history at 11-3, the ‘Cats who play 14 miles from the beach, took out Montreal last Tuesday at the BB&T Center to claim first place in the Atlantic Division. It was Montreal’s 11th loss in their last 13 games. That set the Winter Classic stage with the Canadiens one point behind the Panthers and the Bruins, two.

    Three hours later, it’s Montreal leapfrogging back on top of the division with a 5-1 win over Boston. David Desharnais put the Canadiens in front in the first period, one in which the Bruins showed how much they missed an injured David Krejci and suspended Brad Marchand. Montreal outshot Boston by a whopping 14-3.

    Paul Byron, just picked up on waivers from Calgary, upped the Habs’ lead to 2-0 at 2:00 of the second period. Montreal’s most inspirational player, Brendan Gallagher – in his first game back after missing 17 – swatted a Max Pacioretty rebound past Rask at 17:20 for the 3-0 lead.

    At 3:56 of the final period — with twilight and snowflakes settling in –Gillette came to life when Matt Beleskey tipped an Adam McQuaid shot past Belmont’s Michael Condon. But Max Pacioretty and Gallagher swooped in 2-on-1 at 8:49 with Montreal’s captain beating Rask for the regained three-goal lead. Byron rebounded a P.K. Subban blast past Rask for the game’s final goal.

    So, the eighth Winter Classic is in the books. Your’s truly couching it in shorts and a t-shirt — fan circling above and stirrer below — with a 50-inch HD. Not a bad deal, eh.

    Belmont’s Michael Condon enjoying the game of his life with his 27-save performance, while Boston drops three of four to Montreal so far this season. The Bruins’ all-time 3000th win put on hold until Tuesday when the Washington Capitals come to TD Garden.

    The common thread connecting 67,246 at Foxboro — and legions well beyond on the first day of 2016?

    “We’ve been hockey fans since we were little kids,” Berkowitz smiled.

    Amen.

    Facebook Comments
    Tags:

    Leave a Comment