Play ball? Bruins don vintage Red Sox uniforms and Penguins dress up as the Pittsburgh Pirates ahead of NHL’s Winter Classic at Boston’s Fenway Park
Baseball season is still three months away, but Boston’s Fenway Park was bustling on 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 surprised fans gathered at the corner of Yawkey Way and Van Ness St. by exiting the team bus wearing 1915-era Red Sox threads to commemorate the club’s third World Series title. Several players were seen carrying bats, gloves, and even enjoyed 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 by honoring 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 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic at Fenway Park on Monday.
Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins arrives ahead of the 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic 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 a chance to create a throwback atmosphere around a regular-season game.
This is the second time Fenway has hosted the 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’s 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 prior to the 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic 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 at the 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic at Fenway Park on January 2, 2023 in Boston.
Jeremy Swayman #1 of the Boston Bruins throws a baseball prior to the 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic 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 inaugural game at a snowy Ralph Wilson Stadium in 2008.
The first-place Bruins enter Monday’s game with a four-point edge over the Carolina Hurricanes for the best record in hockey. The Penguins, meanwhile, 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 bearing his likeness – one that happened to be made from frozen spaghetti and pasta sauce.
‘That’s amazing,’ the Bruins winger said in a viral video. ‘Some red sauce in there too.
‘Actually, my favorite too,’ he added. ‘Spaghetti.’
Pastrnak entered the day tied for fifth in the NHL with 25 goals on the season. He’s expected to be signing a lucrative contract extension with the team soon, although a deal has not been finalized.
On Sunday, Bruins star David ‘Pasta’ Pastrnak (left) was honored at Fenway with a statue bearing his likeness – one that happened to be made from frozen spaghetti and pasta sauce.
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