Boston Bruins playing on Black Friday one of many great traditions in professional sports
BOSTON ― Hockey bleeds tradition.
For the moment think about this question: Which sport has the best traditions? We’ll circle back with this discussion later in the story.
Back on hockey, the Boston Bruins are at the forefront of many customs and it was on display Friday with the annual Black Friday game at TD Garden.
It was also fitting that the Bruins set a new NHL record for the longest home winning streak to start a season as they improved to 12-0-0 with a 3-2 overtime win over the Carolina Hurricanes.
“It’s amazing,” said Bruins’ David Pastrnak, who scored the game-winning goal. “It’s Original Six so any record you make as a team is special because of the long history. We’re aware of it and this group is great.”
The Bruins’ tradition has been entertaining fans for three decades in Boston. The team began its annual day after Thanksgiving game in 1986 and it became a perennial staple in 1990.
The Bruins’ record on Black Friday since its inception is 16-8 with one tie and three overtime losses in 28 games. (Due to NHL labor disputes in 1994, 2005 and 2012, along with COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 the game was not played).
“It’s fun,” Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron said of the annual tradition. “As soon as we stepped on the ice for warmups we knew the atmosphere was special; a lot of kids. The energy is always great, but this game in particular is always very energetic. People are alive and seem to be having a good time, so you obviously want to find a way to get the win for them. It’s tradition and it’s a great game to be part of.”
Many believe the tradition would be better if the Bruins faced the same opponent every season. The Rangers would be a solid Thanksgiving rivalry. Pastrnak said this is always a difficult game to play.
“You eat all day then you show up in the morning and have to play an NHL game,” he said with a laugh. “It took a couple of periods to sweat it out, but we got it done as a team.”
Bruins coach Jim Montgomery experienced it for the first time.
“From the outside looking in you’re always jealous because you knew Friday at 1 o’clock the Bruins were playing,” Montgomery said. “I’m very thankful to be part of it.”
When asked for his favorite hockey tradition, Montgomery said: “I’m Canadian. Hockey Night in Canada.”
It’s also a hockey tradition, especially in Boston to recognize those players who have reached milestones. The Bruins will honor Bergeron, who recorded his 1,000th NHL point with an assist on Brad Marchand’s goal during the team’s 5-3 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning Nov. 21, in a pregame ceremony Dec. 17 at TD Garden.
During a television timeout in the first period Friday, the Bruins recognized the achievement on the video board and fans gave their captain a standing ovation.
“It was definitely special,” Bergeron said. “The fans have been such a big part of all my time here in Boston, so I’m very thankful for all of them and that was special for sure. (The attention) is not usually something I love and I couldn’t wait for the camera to be off me, but I’m thankful and very appreciative of them.”
OK, let’s continue the discussion of which sport owns the greatest traditions. Can we call it a toss-up between baseball, hockey and college football?
Non-championship traditions lead the respective sports’ landscape. Again, the majors in sports like horse racing, golf and tennis don’t qualify in this discussion.
The NFL’s Thanksgiving Day games with the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions hosting separate opponents each year ranks as one of the best.
The presentation of the Stanley Cup is hockey’s best tradition, but other outstanding customs include the Winter Classic (and all outdoor games), the Hall of Fame game, Hockey Fights Cancer month, playoff beards, the handshake lines at the conclusion of playoff series, Boston’s Beanpot collegiate tournament, and even throwing octopi on the ice in Detroit ranks up there.
College football owns hundreds of years of elite rivalries, including the annual Army vs. Navy game. In fact, one of college football’s biggest rivalry between Ohio State and Michigan will be played Saturday. What about Harvard vs. Yale?
Baseball owns the Fall Classic, but again, we’re talking about something other than the World Series. Hall of Fame induction weekend in Cooperstown, New York is one of the best. Baseball fans are infatuated with numbers, so streaks and records rule the sport.
Two of the biggest are Ted Williams’ single-season batting average of .406 and Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hit streak. Will either of them ever be broken is a discussion for the ages.
The NBA likely has the least amount of traditions. Playing on Christmas Day is a popular one. For the Celtics, another historical organization that calls TD Garden home, it’s always special when there’s a doubleheader, which was the case Friday as Boston hosted the Sacramento Kings in the nightcap. It’s one of the NBA’s traditions.
It’s timely the World Cup is being played and the match between USA and England added to Friday’s excitement. Overall, the World Cup is the most-popular event in sports.
There’s no correct answer, it only makes for a fun discussion. So, thanks to the Bruins’ Black Friday tradition to start the conversation.
—Contact Joe McDonald at JMcDonald2@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoeyMacHockey.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Bruins and Black Friday games among the top traditions in sports
