Bruins and Flyers ready to ring in the New Year with 2010 NHL Winter Classic at Fenway Park

by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Dec 31, 2009 7:59 PM EST

After months of anticipation and planning, it is finally time to play one of the most talked about regular season games in NHL history as the Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers will meet in the 2010 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic at Fenway Park. Both teams enter the game having shutout their respective opponents on Wednesday night with the B's downing the Atlanta Thrashers 4-0 at TD Garden, while the Flyers handed the New York Rangers a 6-0 loss.

Know Your Enemy

Philadelphia Flyers (19-18-2)

Head Coach: Peter Laviolette

SB Nation's Flyers Blog: Broad Street Hockey

Leading Goal Scorer:

Mike Richards

#18 / Center / Philadelphia Flyers

Height: 5-11

Weight: 195

Born: Feb 11, 1985

	G	A	P	+/-	PIM
2009 - Mike Richards	16	17	33	10	49

Projected Goaltenders:

Tim Thomas

#30 / Goalie / Boston Bruins

Height: 5-11

Weight: 201

Born: Apr 15, 1974

	GP	MIN	W	L	EGA	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2009 - Tim Thomas	24	1439	10	9		58	2.42	711	653	.918	4

Michael Leighton

#49 / Goalie / Philadelphia Flyers

Height: 6-3

Weight: 186

Born: May 19, 1981

	GP	MIN	W	L	EGA	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2009 - Michael Leighton	12	633	5	4		33	3.13	305	272	.892	1

Bruins Projected Lines and D-Pairs:

Steve Begin - Marc Savard - Marco Sturm

Daniel Paille - Patrice Bergeron - Mark Recchi

Blake Wheeler - David Krejci - Michael Ryder

Shawn Thornton - Vladimir Sobotka - Byron Bitz

Zdeno Chara - Dennis Wideman

Andrew Ference - Johnny Boychuk

Matt Hunwick - Derek Morris

Injury Report

Boston Bruins Injuries

Out (IR / Out / Suspended / Physically unvailable)

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Milan Lucic	ankle	11/26/2009
Mark Stuart	sternum	12/15/2009

Philadelphia Flyers Injuries

Questionable

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Ryan Parent	back	12/31/2009

Out (IR / Out / Suspended / Physically unvailable)

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Ole-Kristian Tollefsen	knee	12/15/2009
Ray Emery	abdomen	12/06/2009

Notes:

- SB Nation will be your source for coverage for the Winter Classic. I will be at the game along with Travis Hughes from Broad Street Hockey and Randy Booth from Over The Monster. Keep checking the site and @cupofchowdah on Twitter for updates before, during, and after the game.

- I will be a guest on Toucher & Rich's live pre-game broadcast from Tequila Rain to talk about the B's and the Winter Classic. I am tentatively scheduled to be on the air at 8:40 am on 98.5 FM "The Sports Hub". If you are going to the game stop by Tequila Rain.

- The officiating crew has some local ties as referee Chris Rooney (South Boston) and linesman Brian Murphy (Dover, NH) will work the game along with referee Kerry Fraser and linesman Lyle Seitz.

- Milan Lucic, who is recovering from a high ankle sprain is not expected to play.

- Team USA is scheduled to announce their roster for the Olympics during the game. Members of the 1960 and 1980 team are expected to be in attendance.

- The Flyers have named Michael Leighton as their starting goalie. I would expect Tim Thomas to get the start for the Bruins.

- The Dropkick Murphy's will be performing "Shipping up to Boston" before the game.

- James Taylor will perform the U.S. National Anthem, while Daniel Powter will perform the Canadian National Anthem.

- The Stanley Cup of Chowder Public Skate open thread will start at noon.

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Comments

I still gotta pick up one of those jerseys. It’s funny how I was put off initially by the script B, but now, on the players, it makes perfect sense and really gives the jersey a true classic feel. I hope the team does the smart thing and keeps it as an alternate next year, even if it means (gulp) the death of the all-black look, which I love.

Enjoy the game for those who are going…I’ll be plunked down in the living room for much of the afternoon while the game is on. With a laptop if there’s an open thread.

by Arenacale on Dec 31, 2009 9:07 PM EST reply actions