Much like kids playing on the pond, the Bruins wanted to stay on the ice for just a few more minutes. After tying up the game on Mark Recchi's goal with 2:18 left in the third period, Marco Sturm tipped home the game-winner 1:57 into overtime.
Shawn Thornton and Daniel Carcillo made NHL Winter Classic history, when they dropped the gloves 12:01 into the game. Carcillo scored the takedown and the ire of the Fenway Faithful with his taunt while entering the penalty box.
The Flyers got on the board first with 15:18 left in the second period on a strange play. Tim Thomas tried to clear his crease with a little cross-check to Scott Hartnell as Danny Syvret found the back of the net for his first NHL goal. After the game, Thomas took responsibility for his role in the game's first goal, "The goal was basically because I lost my cool and I lost the puck".
The Bruins tied it up with 2:18 remaining in regulation, when former Flyer Mark Recchi tipped home Derek Morris' shot on the power play with Kimmo Timonen off for tripping.
After 60 minutes of hockey, the two teams headed to overtime where Marco Sturm would provide the game-winning goal and send the hometown fans home happy. Sturm gave Patrice Bergeron credit for setting up the winning goal, "He made a great play for the tip-in".
Notes:
- Tim Thomas finished off a memorable day by being named to the U.S. Olympic team:"This will go down as one of the most memorable days of my life, of my career. Winning and the way that we won and then being named to the Olympic team....I feel like I have been waiting my whole life for this."
- The Bruins became the first home team to win the NHL Winter Classic.
- With the win, Claude Julien tied Terry O'Reilly for 15th on the Bruins all-time wins list for coaches with 115 wins.
- The Flyers edged the Bruins 30-29 in hits in probably the most physical Winter Classic to date.
- After a week of forecasts calling for snow and rain, the weather held off as it was clear skies and a relatively warm 39.6 degrees at puck drop.