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Montreal Canadiens To Face Boston Bruins At Winter Classic 2016

By Lissa Albert |
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Jul 29, 2015; Foxboro, MA, USA; NHL commission Gary Bettman and representatives of the Montreal Canadiens pose for a photo during a press conference for the Winter Classic hockey game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

The Montreal Canadiens will be playing a Winter Classic New Year’s Day, 2016, against arch-rivals, the Boston Bruins. This will be the first time the Habs will participate in a Winter Classic, and it is Boston’s second.

The match will take place at Gillette Stadium (home to the New England Patriots), and it marks the first time in over 900 games in their combined history that they will meet in an outdoor venue – probably the one thing left for these two teams to achieve.

Bruins’ owner, Jeremy Jacobs, released this statement:

This Winter Classic brings to Gillette an Original Six rivalry that dates back to 1924. No two teams in the NHL have played each other more times than the Canadiens and Bruins. So, it’s only fitting that these two teams continue this rivalry on one of the NHL’s biggest stages.

Habs’ owner, Geoff Molson, said this:

The rivalry between these two Original Six teams and historic franchise is like no other in sports. In our 106 years in the NHL, we’ve played the Bruins 34 times in the playoffs, and our fans, and the Boston Bruins fans, are so fortunate to have a great rivalry.

And there is no doubt that the rivalry – descending (or ascending, depending on your point of view) to hatred at its hottest – is a special one. It isn’t just about the points when these two teams meet; it’s about bragging rights to the victory.

The Winter Classic brings with it a lot of ceremony, pumped-up extras (such as entertainment at intermissions, and activities throughout the game) as well as a challenging outdoor climate. The unknowns remain out of anyone’s control, mainly the weather conditions, and that only adds to the fun.

The Habs have participated in two Heritage Classics (also outdoor games): the first, in 2003, took place against the Edmonton Oilers, and marked the very first outdoor game held by the NHL in regular season.

(NB: regardless of the pomp and circumstance, outdoor games are still part of the regular-season schedule, and count for the points in any other indoor game)

The Canadiens won that game, 4-3, in front of a crowd of over 57,000 attendees, and in temperatures reaching -20C (approximately -10F). As the success of that game resonated through the NHL, it became a repeat affair in 2011, against the Calgary Flames.

That game wasn’t so successful for the Habs, who were shut out 4-0. While there are no excuses by – or for – the Habs, there is no question the ice surface was a contributing factor; besides the Zamboni damaging the surface of the rock-hard ice (frigid temps once again), the ice was then flooded to compensate, and even the Flames’ players noticed:

“I think the ice got better as we went along,” said Flames forward Alex Tanguay, who scored the game’s final goal in the third period. “But at the start of the game the ice wasn’t great, so it was important for us to take the lead and play with an advantage.”

There is no prediction for this year’s Winter Classic; after all, the season has yet to start, and with new management in Boston, along with roster changes by both teams, it will be an interesting game to watch for more than just the hockey.

The New Year’s game will be the fourth of five meetings these two teams will have in the 2015-16 season, and by then, the rivalry will be well escalated.

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Prior to the game, on the 31st, Bruins and Habs alumni will meet, as per the usual lineup of entertainment planned for any Winter Classic. Already, Ray Bourque has been announced as a participant for the Bruins. The defenseman, 54 years old, said:

I’m really excited that I’ll be able to play in the alumni game this year. Being here live in the alumni game and then watching the Bruins play the Canadiens, is going to be a lot of fun and it really makes for a great setting here at Gillette with over 70,000 people watching the game.

And another element to look forward to is the return of HBO’s show, “24/7”, which had previously covered the Winter Classic between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals in 2011, the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers in 2012, and last season’s match between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings.

The show follows both teams, with all-access footage from the season’s games in the 4 weeks leading up to, and including the Winter Classic. We get to see the players as we don’t usually see them: in every situation from travel, to locker room, to hotel living, and game/practice situations.

For Habs fans, the Canadiens’ own “24CH” show – with the same format – has given us that inside look. But the HBO series is entirely different, as it leads up to the excitement on New Year’s Eve.

New jerseys will be unveiled as the game draws closer, but logos were released already:

No doubt this will be an exciting season for Habs fans – every season manages to bring new thrills. But with the added anticipation leading up to the New Year’s Day showdown in the biggest arena they’ve played yet, the Canadiens will provide even more for fans of their team, and hockey fans in general.

After all, this rivalry was practically made for a huge venue. And we won’t be disappointed. (As long as the Habs win, of course)

(Remember when P.K. Subban blasted a 2nd-OT game-winning goal past Tuukka Rask to win Game 1 of their second-round series? There’s nothing like Habs-Bruins games!)

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