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Bruins, Penguins Arrive In Baseball Style For Winter Classic

The Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins didn't just take a bus to Fenway Park for the 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic. They took a trip back in time.

The Bruins arrived in throwback Boston Red Sox uniforms, complete with old-style baseball gloves. Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron and forward Brad Marchand carried bats given to them by Red Sox clubhouse attendant Tommy McLaughlin that were formerly the property of Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek, who was in attendance Monday and participated in the opening ceremony.

"They look very legit," said Red Sox utility man extraordinaire Kiké Hernandez. "I'm hoping we get uniforms like that and do some sort of throwback. Those uniforms were really cool for sure."

Bergeron said that the Bruins were planning this for a year, since the announcement of the 2023 Winter Classic at Fenway. The uniforms were custom-fitted to each player, complete with stirrup socks. Bruins goalie Linus Ullmark completed his look with a pair of vintage cleats, which he wore to the postgame press conference.

The Penguins donned uniforms from the 1925 Pittsburgh Pirates season.

Apparently, the baseball uniforms were not a combined effort, Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said.

"We did not coordinate with the Bruins, at least it's not my understanding that we did," Sullivan said. "I think it's really appropriate, and in an event like this, in such an iconic stadium, in a lot of ways I think it's appropriate because it gives us an opportunity to tip our hat to all the great players and great teams that have played in this stadium over the years. And for me, I think it's just part of the entertainment value, but I know our players were excited about it, and I'm sure Boston was as well."

Video: Bruins arrive at the Winter Classic in Red Sox styles

The Bruins really got into the spirit by playing catch on the field at Fenway Park before their 2-1 win.

"I went on the field with them and I played catch with that glove," Hernandez said. "It took a lot more talent back in the day to catch a ball with that glove than it does now. Especially with me, playing here in Fenway, playing in April in May with those gloves does not sound fun at all."

Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry arrived wearing catcher's gear.

The Bruins even did a pregame pep talk on the field, and the famed Green Monster listed the Atlantic Division standings and NHL scores from Sunday.  

Bruins forward David Pastrnak got into the baseball spirit Sunday with his baseball-themed stick and gloves.  Boston also posed for a team picture at Fenway.

"'Field of Dreams' and a combination of 'Eight Men Out,'" is how Bruins coach Jim Montgomery reffered to the baseball uniforms. "The guys walked out in vintage Red Sox outfits and, again, you come back to how lucky we are to be at such a great event."

"This is a storied building and we wanted to make sure that as much fun was we were having with it," Bruins forward Nick Foligno said.

Video: Penguins arrive at Fenway in vintage Pirates uniforms

This was the second time the Winter Classic was held at the 110-year-old home of the Red Sox. The Bruins defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 2-1 in the 2010 Winter Classic.

This time around, both teams hit the exact right note arriving to the game. When you are entering storied Fenway Park, you have to dress the part.

NHL.Com independent correspondent Joseph Pohoryles, NHL.Com staff writer Amalie Benjamin and NHL.Com senior director of editorial Shawn P. Roarke contributed to this report

Bruins Goaltender Linus Ullmark Nearly Fought Matthew Tkachuk And NHL Fans Were So On Board

The referees absolutely should have let Linus Ullmark and Matthew Tkachuk go at it here.

On Sunday, the Boston Bruins took a 3-1 series lead in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, putting the Florida Panthers one loss away from elimination in the first round. While early on in the third period, it looked like the Panthers were set to make Game 4 a close one, the Bruins scored three straight to put the game away 6-2 as the series pivots back to Boston.

Before the final buzzer sounded, however, tensions boiled over in a full on line scuffle between the two teams on the ice with a few minutes to play. And during the pandemonium, Bruins goaltender Ullmark threw down his gloves to tango with notorious Panthers pest Tkachuk!

Unfortunately, the referees stopped the pair from engaging in fisticuffs, but the moment was still awesome regardless.

Between this and the referees stopping a goaltender fight between Marc-Andre Fleury and Jordan Binnington not too long ago, hockey fans have truly been robbed of goalie brawls. Even still, NHL fans were so here for Ullmark wanting to throw down with Tkachuk in the heat of the moment.

Boston Bruins At Florida Panthers Game 6 Odds, Picks And Predictions

© Provided by Sportsbook Wire Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (63) is congratulated by his teammates after scoring a goal during the second period in game five of the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Boston Bruins at TD Garden.

The Boston Bruins try again to eliminate the Florida Panthers in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference playoff series Friday. Puck drop at FLA Live Arena is scheduled for 7:30 p.M. ET (TNT). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's lines around the Bruins vs. Panthers odds, and make our expert NHL picks and predictions.

Series: Bruins lead 3-2

The Bruins dropped Game 5 at home, 4-3 in overtime, in a game they never led. The teams traded goals until Panthers LW Matthew Tkachuk was able to deliver the game-winner on an open net after Bruins G Linus Ullmark sprawled to his right to make a save after committing a turnover behind his net.

The series shifts back to Florida where Boston dominated the Panthers in Games 3 and 4 with 6-2 and 4-2 victories. If Florida can survive, Game 7 will be back in Boston Sunday.

Bruins at Panthers Game 6 odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 7:38 a.M. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Bruins -175 (bet $175 to win $100)Panthers +145 (bet $100 to win $145) Puck line (PL)/Against the spread (ATS): Bruins -1.5 (+140)Panthers +1.5 (-165) Over/Under (O/U): 6 (O: -120U: +100)

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Bruins at Panthers Game 6 projected goalies

Linus Ullmark (40-6-1, 1.89 GAA, .938 SV%, 2 SO – regular season) vs. Sergei Bobrovsky (24-20-3, 3.07 GAA, .901 SV%, 1 SO – regular season)

Ullmark has been decent with a 2.79 GAA and .913 SV% this series. However, Florida has exposed a weak spot over his glove side. Outside of Game 1, he has allowed at least 2 goals per game. He was great in Games 3-4 in this building with 70 saves on 74 shots.

Bobrovsky was really good in Game 5, stopping 44 of 47 shots. He allowed 5 goals on 30 shots in his first start of the series in Game 4, but he hadn't started in nearly a month before that. He'll have to be great again in Game 6.

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Bruins at Panthers Game 6 picks and predictions Prediction

Bruins 4, Panthers 2

Moneyline

Boston won both games in the series in Florida, and the road team has won the last 4 overall. Boston is 36-16 in the last 52 meetings overall and 21-10 in the last 31 in Florida. They turn out the lights in this series, but it's not a sure enough thing to pay -175 for the moneyline.

PASS.

Puck line/Against the spread

All 3 of Boston's wins have been by multiple goals, and they really took it to the Panthers in Games 3-4 in this building. The 4-2 score in Game 3 doesn't paint an accurate picture because Florida got a couple of late, fluky goals. Boston dominated those games. The Bruins will score early to apply the pressure, and the puck line should cash.

Take the BRUINS -1.5 (+140).

Over/Under

We're forecasting a push here, and the Over is 3-2 in the series. The Over was 1-1 in the 2 games in Florida. The Over is 7-2 in the last 9 meetings overall between the Bruins and Panthers, but the Under is 9-4-1 in the last 14 meetings in Florida.

It could go either way, so PASS on the total. Head to the Win/Total section, take BRUINS TO WIN AND OVER 5.5 GOALS (+145).

For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.Com and BetFTW.

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