1) Fri, Jan 1 vs Philadelphia: The Winter Classic

The Winter Classic is the marquee event of the NHL regular season, and Fenway Park is the perfect venue for its continued success. The traditional appeal of the old ballpark will combine with the blustery winter weather to create a dynamic recipe for old-time hockey, and Chris Pronger and Zdeno Chara will be relied upon for some equally chilling physical play. Just like last year’s Classic at Wrigley, the buzz of the crowd and intensity of the game will further indicate the rebirth of an Original Six city that had recently struggled to keep professional hockey on its radar. 

2) Sat, Dec 5 vs Toronto

Obviously, the focal point of this matchup will be Phil Kessel’s return to Boston, assuming he has fully recovered from offseason shoulder surgery. It will be interesting to see how the exiled sniper is received by the hometown faithful, as his departure was less than amicable, and it will be even more intriguing to see how he plays against his former teammates. Considering his tendency to avoid body contact, he probably won’t like the idea of going one-on-one in the corners against Chara’s 6-9, 255-pound frame.

3) Thu, Jan 14 @ San Jose

Through two periods of Joe Thornton’s much-anticipated return last season, the game was shaping up to be everything we expected--the B's led 2-1 in a tight defensive battle between the league's top teams. Then they suffered a most uncharacteristic collapse: San Jose came out firing in the third, and Boston surrendered four more goals in a frustrating exposure of defensive weaknesses that catapulted the Bruins into their worst slump of the season. The Bruins head to the Shark Tank for a redo this January, and the matchup should again serve as a clash of elite teams. Hopefully, the boys are better prepared this time. 

4) Thu, Nov 5 vs Montreal

While I endorse any Bruins-Canadiens contest as entertaining television for even the most clueless of sports fans, this one will be particularly important in setting the tone for the season series. In the first of six games between the division rivals, Montreal will be seeking payback after its embarrassing playoff performance, and its revamped offense appears ready to create problems for the Bruins. The game should feature plenty of scoring, and it should also contain plenty of the post-whistle scrums and chatter that make this rivalry one of the best in sports.

5) Thu, Oct 1 vs Washington

Thursday’s season opener in Boston features two hungry, powerful Eastern Conference teams left unsatisfied by shortened playoff runs last spring. The Bruins and Capitals face heightened pressure and expectations heading into the new campaign, and the atmosphere in the Garden will be booming come game time. What better way to kick off the new season than a clash between Ovechkin, the league’s most electric player, and Chara, its most prominent shutdown defender?