NHL’s Winter Classic: Bruins and Penguins players don Red Sox and Pirates gear at Fenway Park
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Play ball? The Bruins wear vintage Red Sox uniforms and the Penguins dress up as the Pittsburgh Pirates before the NHL Winter Classic at Fenway Park in Boston.
Baseball season is still three months away, but Boston’s Fenway Park was packed Monday as the hometown Bruins and visiting Pittsburgh Penguins arrived at the Winter Classic in vintage baseball uniforms.
Led by captain Patrice Bergeron, the Bruins wowed fans gathered at the corner of Yawkey Way and Van Ness St. by exiting the team bus wearing 1915-era Red Sox gear to commemorate the third World Series title. of the club Several players were seen carrying bats, gloves and even enjoying a game of catch on the field, where an ice rink had already been erected in anticipation of Monday’s Winter Classic.
Not to be outdone, the Penguins stayed within their black and gold motif as they honored the 1925 World Series-winning Pirates.
General manager Don Sweeney, Brad Marchand #63, Patrice Bergeron #37 and head coach Jim Montgomery of the Boston Bruins pose for a photo before the game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Discover NHL Winter Classic 2023 at Fenway Park on Monday
Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins arrives before the Discover NHL Winter Classic 2023 game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Boston Bruins at Fenway Park
The NHL’s Winter Classic is the league’s annual outdoor game. Although the locations and teams change from year to year, it’s usually an opportunity to create a throwback atmosphere around a regular season game.
This marks the second time Fenway has hosted the big outdoor extravaganza following the Bruins’ overtime win over the visiting Philadelphia Flyers in 2010. The Bruins also hosted the Winter Classic at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts in 2016, when the visiting Montreal Canadiens won 5-1.
The Bruins last played in the Winter Classic in 2019, when they beat the Chicago Blackhawks at Notre Dame Football Stadium. On that occasion, the team arrived at the Winter Classic wearing Peaky Blinders-style suits.
Brad Marchand #63 of the Boston Bruins stands on the field before the Discover NHL Winter Classic 2023 game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Boston Bruins at Fenway Park
The Boston Bruins pose for a team photo before the game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Discover NHL Winter Classic 2023 at Fenway Park on January 2, 2023 in Boston.
Jeremy Swayman #1 of the Boston Bruins throws a baseball before the Discover NHL Winter Classic 2023 game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Boston Bruins at Fenway Park
A general view of Charlie McAvoy #73 of the Boston Bruins playing the puck during practice for the NHL Winter Classic at Fenway Park on Sunday in Boston.
The Penguins and captain Sidney Crosby are no strangers to the Winter Classic, having beaten the Buffalo Sabers in the opening game at a snow-covered Ralph Wilson Stadium in 2008.
The first-place Bruins enter Monday’s game with a four-point lead over the Carolina Hurricanes for the best record in hockey. Meanwhile, the Penguins have struggled this year, going 19-11-6 in 36 games (44 points).
On Sunday, Bruins star David “Pasta” Pastrnak was honored at Fenway with a statue of him, one that turned out to be made from frozen spaghetti and pasta sauce.
“It’s unbelievable,” the Bruins winger said in a viral video. There is also some red sauce.
“Actually my favorite too,” he added. ‘Spaghetti.’
Pastrnak entered the day tied for fifth in the NHL with 25 goals on the season. He is expected to sign a lucrative contract extension with the team soon, although no deal has been finalized.
On Sunday, Bruins star David ‘Pasta’ Pastrnak (left) was honored at Fenway with a statue of him, one that turned out to be made from frozen spaghetti and pasta sauce.