Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens snubbed for 2015 Winter Classic

May 14, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins right wing

(21) checks Montreal Canadiens defenseman

(76) into the wall during the first period in game seven of the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Banknorth Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

Any time the Boston Bruins and the Montreal Canadiens square off, it guarantees a visceral response from the passionate fan bases.  There is too much tradition there, and many times the blue, blanc et rouge have walked away the victors. For months, it seemed that the Black and Gold would be taking on their perennial rivals in one of the biggest hockey games of the year, the Winter Classic.

The Bruins last held the Winter Classic in 2010. The venue was Fenway Park, one of the oldest baseball stadiums in major league baseball. There the Bruins took on the Philadelphia Flyers. The game certainly had its highlights, and a few milestones. Shawn Thornton was the first player charged with a fighting major in a Winter Classic when he took on Daniel Carcillo in the first period of the match. Marc Recchi and Marco Sturm were the goal scorers for Boston, and Tim Thomas held the crease for the Black and Gold stopping twenty four of twenty five shots.

The Bruins walked away with a 2-1 overtime “home” win.

Does this make you feel nostalgic? Want to reminisce? Here is a replay of the entire game.

Well, the NHL is about to announce that the 2015 Winter Classic will not be held in Boston, or even Montreal. This disappointing news will surely upset our fan base, and our rivals in Canada. It appears the game will be held at Nationals Park in Washington D.C. . The two teams scheduled to play this year are the Washington Capitals and the Chicago Blackhawks.  The Blackhawks are an original six team, and I’m glad to see the old guard get the proper level of respect here.

It would have been nicer to watch Brad Marchand and P.K. Subban chirp each other silly on center ice though.