Jake DeBrusk scored a pair of goals including the go-ahead effort with less than 3 minutes in regulation left as the Boston Bruins won the 2023 NHL Winter Classic 2-1 Monday evening at Fenway Park.
Desbrusk's game-winner came at 17:36 of the 3rd period to put the Bruins ahead for good. It was his 2nd of the game and 16th of the season after his 15th at 7:46 of the 3rd period.
Pittsburgh struck first at 8:40 of period 2 from Kasperi Kapanen's 6th of 2022-23 to give the Penguins a 1-0 lead. It would be the only goal scored by the Pens despite seemingly having more puck control than Boston early on. Goaltender Tristan Jarry left in the middle of the 1st period due to a lower-body injury, having shown some discomfort not long beforehand. Backup Casey DeSmith subbed in and he would tend the net for Pittsburgh for the remainder of the game.
The 2023 NHL Winter Classic was held at Fenway Park for the first time since 2010, a 2-1 Bruins victory in overtime against the Philadelphia Flyers. The home of the Boston Red Sox also became the first venue in Winter Classic history to host multiple games, compared to venues like Ann Arbor's Michigan Stadium and Minneapolis' Target Field.
This year's Winter Classic is the first of 2 outdoor games for the NHL this season. On February 18, the Carolina Hurricanes face the Tampa Bay Lightning in their first-ever outdoor game, to be played at NC State's Carter-Finley Stadium in the Canes' home city of Raleigh.
Boston edged Pittsburgh on total shots, 29-26, and outhit them 31-19. The Penguins won 41 faceoffs compared to Boston's 32 and were deadlocked with the Bruins on total penalty minutes with 6 each for 12 combined minutes in the box.
With the win at Fenway, Boston continues its stellar 2022-23 campaign, improving to 29-4-4 and remaining at the top of the Atlantic Division. Their next contest sees them travel to LA to face the Kings on January 5, with puck drop scheduled for 10:30 pm. Pittsburgh, meanwhile, falls to 19-12-6 and 5th in the Metro Division plus suffering their 5th straight loss. Their next game sees them travel to Vegas to face the Golden Knights on January 5. Puck drop is scheduled for 10 pm.
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