Bruins are already eager to take part in 2019 NHL Winter Classic

The Boston Bruins had just finished practice Monday afternoon at Warrior Ice Arena, and some of the players were in the locker room watching warmups between the New York Rangers and Buffalo Sabres for the 2018 NHL Winter Classic on the large-screen television.

The Bruins were packing for the team’s trip to Brooklyn, N.Y. to face the New York Islanders on Tuesday at Barclays Center, but some of the focus was on the annual outdoor game because one year from today the Bruins will face the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2019 Winter Classic at Notre Dame Stadium.

Before signing as a free agent in Boston prior to the 2016-17 season, Bruins alternate captain David Backes spent his entire career with the St. Louis Blues. He missed out on the 2017 Winter Classic between his former team and the Blackhawks at Busch Stadium in St. Louis last New Year’s Day.

So, he’s looking forward to Jan. 1, 2019.



“Only 365 days until next year’s Winter Classic, I guess Happy Gilmore would say,” Backes said with a laugh. “I missed one in St. Louis by a year. It’ll be a pretty exciting opportunity for all the guys in the room to be part of a spectacle like that; some of the guys in here played in a couple, but for the most part, from my reports from guys that have played in them, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that you really need to soak up and enjoy and it’s pretty fun, so I’m looking forward to it. But, we’ve got a lot of hockey to play between now and then.”

The New York Rangers and the Buffalo Sabres staged the 10^th anniversary of the Winter Classic on Monday in front of 41,000-plus at Citi Field, the home of the New York Mets. Ever since the Sabres and the Pittsburgh Penguins played the inaugural event on Jan. 1, 2008, at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo, the annual outdoor game has become the NHL’s marquee regular-season event.

Some believe the league has too many outdoor games during the season, but the fan response hasn’t dwindled. These types of events have become so popular that the NHL alumni, AHL, college and high schools are playing outside every winter.

On Friday, Team USA played Canada in a thrilling shootout victory for the Americans in the World Junior Championship at New Era Field in Buffalo. It snowed the entire game and over 40,000 were on hand to witness it.

Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy is a fan of the outdoor games.

“I like the idea of it,” Cassidy said. “Does it get to be too much, or too many? That’s part of the conversation. Does it lose its luster? I don’t know. The U.S.-Canada game the other day was a great snapshot of outdoor hockey, but I don’t know if you’re in that game if you enjoyed it so much because (ice crew) was always shoveling and you couldn’t see. I watched it and you lost sight of the puck. But, it’s part of hockey.

“(Sunday) evening, my son was in an outdoor rink playing with Jay’s (Pandolfo) son and a couple of others. It’s priceless for those kids at that age, and even as pros. I like it. What’s too much is the question I would ask.”

No doubt it’s a great experience for fans. However, it can be challenging for players to perform at their best in unpredictable outdoor conditions. The hype, preparation and build-up can also be a distraction for teams. The Blackhawks have played a total of five outdoor games, including three Winter Classics and two Stadium Series and have a 1-5 record. The Bruins have played in two Winter Classic and they’re 1-1.

The Bruins were embarrassed during the 2016 Winter Classic, losing 5-1 to the Montreal Canadiens at Gillette Stadium. On the current Bruins roster, only Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci and Zdeno Chara played in the 2010 Winter Classic and finished with a 2-1 overtime victory against the Philadelphia Flyers at Fenway Park. Tuukka Rask served as Tim Thomas’ backup at that time.

He’s become a fan of the outdoor games.

“It’s great,” Rask said. “It’s an interesting event. It breaks the norm a little bit. You’re used to the grind, going from hotel to the rink and it’s the same routine every day, but (Winter Classic) is different. It feels like a special event; media around it is much bigger. It creates an extra buzz for the players too and it’s the midseason point, so it’s good to have that break from the norm and go outside and have playing some fun playing outside.”

The Bruins are focused on the task at hand right now because they have a pretty good thing going this season, but it’s going to be an incredible experience a year from now when they play the Blackhawks at the home of the Irish in South Bend, Ind.