Canadiens’ David Desharnais Slaps Puck Out of the Air for Winter Classic’s

So Bruins goalie Tuuka Rask decided it would be nice to have a new helmet design for the occasion, one that honored his team’s super-successful National Football League counterparts.

“I said I wouldn’t come back if I wasn’t able to contribute”, said Gallagher, who targeted the New Year’s Day game but was going to be smart about it. “The way the night went you couldn’t really ask for anything more”.

With the home of the NFL’s New England Patriots transformed for the festive New Year’s Day outdoor game, the Canadiens showed they are right at home anywhere in the Boston area.

The Montreal Canadiens came into Friday’s game at Gillette Stadium determined to do more than just take part in their first Winter Classic game.

Watch Kim Kalunian’s full report in the video above.

“We definitely feel like we let everybody down”, Bruins defenseman Dennis Seidenberg said. As the period went on and a few flakes of snow fell, the rough stuff started as it usually does between these two teams as Jimmy Hayes and Lars Eller were sent to their respective locker rooms for fighting. Within only 74 seconds, Desharnais found a puck dangling in midair-after bouncing off the pipes-and slapped it in.

The Montreal Canadiens head into Boston for the Winter Classic looking to shake out of an ugly 2-8 slump and retake their perch atop the Atlantic division standings but face off against heir bitter rivals in the elements in what should be an exciting contest.

The game ended with another small scrum which makes sense because the Bruins had to of been frustrated with their play.

Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher has been cleared to return for the Winter Classic after missing 17 games with two broken fingers on his left hand.

Tuukka Rask stopped 25 shots for the Bruins, but could not keep out Matt Beleskey’s third-period shot and ensure the first shutout in Winter Classic history, although the four-goal margin was the largest for the event since it began in 2008.

“The Bruins games are the best games to go to live”, Gostkowski said. He pushed the Canadiens’ lead to three goals late in the second period when he knocked a puck out of the air with his stick blade and past Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask. They’re a team that didn’t sit on one this time around. Luckily for them, they have a couple months to get healthy or add some players through trades. Yup, Bruins-Habs, Winter Classic.

His players probably won’t get to see Friday’s hockey game. Meanwhile, the Canadiens got off to a franchise-record 9-0-0 start and they were 13-3-0 after they beat the Bruins Nov. 7. “We’re not going to intimidate anyone, but they don’t intimidate us”. Before people could settle in after the pregame festivities, the Canadiens were up 1-0. What’s more, the B’s have a tough schedule ahead – a home date against Eastern Conference-leading Washington, followed by a lengthy five-game road trip.