Play ball? Bruins don vintage Red Sox uniforms and penguins dress up as the Pittsburgh Pirates ahead of the NHL’s Winter Classic at Boston’s Fenway Park
Baseball season is still three months away, but Boston’s Fenway Park was buzzing with activity Monday as the hometown Bruins and visiting Pittsburgh Penguins showed up for 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 attend the third World Series -Remember the club’s title. Several players were seen with racquets and gloves and even enjoying a game of tag on the field where an ice rink had already been erected in anticipation of Monday’s Winter Classic.
Not to be outdone, the penguins stuck to their black and gold motif by honoring the pirates who won the 1925 World Series.
The Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney, Brad Marchand #63, Patrice Bergeron #37 and head coach Jim Montgomery pose for a photo before the game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic Monday at Fenway Park
Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins arrives at Fenway Park prior to the 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Boston Bruins
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 is the second time Fenway has hosted the outdoor extravaganza after the Bruins won overtime against the visiting Philadelphia Flyers in 2010. The Bruins also hosted the 2016 Winter Classic at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts when the visiting Montreal Canadiens went 5-1.
The Bruins last played at the Winter Classic in 2019 when they defeated the Chicago Blackhawks at Notre Dame Stadium. On this occasion, the team came to the Winter Classic in 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 the Boston Bruins’ Charlie McAvoy #73 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 defeated the Buffalo Sabers in the opening game at snowy Ralph Wilson Stadium in 2008.
The first-place Bruins go into Monday’s game with a four-point lead over the Carolina Hurricanes for the best record in hockey. The Penguins, on the other hand, have struggled this year, winning 19-11-6 in 36 games (44 points).
On Sunday, Bruins star David “Pasta” Pastrnak was honored in Fenway with a statue bearing his likeness – one that happened to be made out of frozen spaghetti and pasta sauce.
“This is amazing,” the Bruins winger said in a viral video. ‘There’s some red sauce in there, too.
“Actually my favorite too,” he added. ‘Spaghetti.’
Pastrnak went into the NHL in fifth place with 25 goals this season. He is expected to sign a lucrative contract extension with the team soon, although a deal has yet to be finalized.
On Sunday, Bruins star David “Pasta” Pastrnak (left) was honored in Fenway with a statue bearing his likeness – one that happened to be made out of frozen spaghetti and pasta sauce