Cheers, chirps and a Cup: The top moments from 2011 Bruins' virtual reunion

It might not have been how they'd envisioned it would all come together, but the 2010-11 Bruins reunited as an entire group for the first time in nine years on Tuesday night — reminiscing (and mostly chirping one another) during NESN's airing of their Game 7 Stanley Cup clincher against the Vancouver Canucks.

Of course, given the limitations brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, this reunion needed to be facilitated through an often hectic Zoom video conference room — with wisecracks and quips dished out faster than a David  Krejci saucer pass.

Other than Nathan Horton, just about every other Bruin on the 2010-11 roster made an appearance, with a majority of them sticking around for the entire 2 1/2 hour live stream on the Bruins' Youtube page. Current Bruins Zdeno Chara, Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, Tuukka Rask and Krejci all took part in the chat — while Michael Ryder joined in late from his native Newfoundland. Even the usually reclusive Tim Thomas took part in the event — while current NHLers (albeit no longer in black & gold sweaters) in Tyler Seguin and Milan Lucic also participated.

There were plenty of memorable moments from the online chat — far too many (or too ...  colorful) to include all in one post.

But here are a few of the highlights from Tuesday's entertaining night:

"Didn't realize how many times you saved our ass."



While it was great to see most of the 2010-11 Bruins together in one (virtual) room, Tim Thomas' appearance obviously drew most of the headlines — given how he's primarily been off the grid since hanging up his skates back in 2014. 

Andrew Ference: "Timmy you been watching these? ... I did (the Twitter takeover) in the last game — when you rocked (Henrik) Sedin. It was sick. Didn't realize how many times you saved our ass."

Tim Thomas: "I don't see it and look at it like that. I just remember the feeling we all had together. ... It's pretty awesome, bringing back these memories. Going into tonight — if my computer would stop freezing."

"Cheers, boys"



While he did not stay for the entire stream, Tomas Kaberle did kick things off by offering up a toast shortly after puck drop.

"I see all you guys drinking, so cheers, boys," Kaberle said.

Let's just say, it would not be the only round of libations poured out by the end of the night.

"It's our ice now"



While a late hit from Aaron Rome in Game 3 led to an abrupt end to Nathan Horton's memorable postseason campaign, the winger still managed to leave an indelible mark on Boston's clinching victory up at Rogers Arena — pouring melted ice from TD Garden onto the frozen sheet in Vancouver hours ahead of puck drop. 

While such a move has become an iconic shot of Boston's march toward Lord Stanley's Cup, very few of the players were aware of Horton's efforts to neutralize the Canucks' home-ice advantage until after the victory.

Ference: "Did anybody know what Horty did? I didn't know what he did until after the game."

Mark Recchi: "Didn't know until after, either."

Milan Lucic: "I found out when he came back in and I think he told a couple of us — 'It's our ice now.' Him and (Bruins assistant equipment manager) Matty Falconer told me after. But other than that, nobody really knew what he did."

Ference: "It's the best footage ever. He looks like he's on a secret mission. It's amazing."

Lucic: "Like a hitman out there."

"Newfie Time" 



He managed to log in later in the first period, but the late arrival of Michael Ryder — the pride of Bonavista, Newfoundland — did draw some laughs from his teammates.

Tuukka Rask: "Ryds isn't here, is he?"

Shane Hnidy: "No chance."

Ference: Ryds is on Newfie time, bud. He can't figure out the half-hour difference."

"Was that you, Tooks?" 



While we have yet to receive official confirmation as to who was consistently breaking wind throughout the video conference, it was pretty easy for all involved to single out the primary suspect.

Lucic: "Was that you, Tooks?"

Fair or not, the reputation certainly seems to precede the Bruins' netminder. Thankfully, no one had to share the room with the Finnish product.

Marchand vs. Campbell, Round 1: 



If we had to hand out our own virtual Conn Smythe Trophy for MVP of this Zoom chat, it'd have to go to Gregory Campbell, who was revved up from the first period on and spent most of the evening throwing barbs at the rest of his teammates. To the surprise of very few, Campbell spent most of his time trying to pick a fight with Brad Marchand — the two-time reigning best **and worst** trash talker in the NHL.

A true heavyweight fight, to say the least.

Marchand: "You're going bald there, bud. You better relax."

Campbell: "I'm going bald? Your f****** forehead starts f****** eight inches back from your f****** eyes. I've seen your pictures lately. Just embarrassing. Keep the helmet on next time."

Corsi God Dougie Hamilton



The 2010-11 Bruins might have harkened back to the "Big Bad Bruins" of yesteryear by beating the Canucks to a pulp for most of the seven-game series, but who knew this group was also an early catalyst in terms of using puck-possession metrics and underlying statistics to their advantage.

Ok, well, perhaps the players didn't follow such a route during these games. But both Lucic and Shawn Thornton managed to land a couple of quips relating to perhaps the most familiar hockey advanced statistic — Corsi.

Ference on Dennis Seidenberg: "He took 8,000 shots like that (from the red line), though."

Lucic: "The ol' Dougie Hamilton — get the Corsi up."



Thornton added his own commentary later when the team started to take note of the Canucks' slew of low-danger shots sailing in on Thomas.

"Look at all these slappers from the red line."

Shawn Thornton: "Corsi."

Ference: "They didn't even do Corsi back then, man."

Thornton: "Nah, but we were ahead of it."

"Your game is going to shit."



His playing career is over, but Chris Kelly is still a regular sight around the Bruins' facilities — as he's currently in his first year as a player development coordinator with his former club. Based on some of his teammates' comments, it looks as though Kelly could be moving up the company ladder in short order.

Campbell: "I don't chirp Kells, because he's going to be the next f****** GM of the Bruins pretty soon."

Marchand: "Kells is gonna get me traded tomorrow."

Kelly: "No chance. No one will take you. F***. Once Bergy (Patrice Bergeron) retires, your game is going to shit."

No love lost for Burrows, Hansen & Kesler



In what was a recurring theme for most of the evening, the Bruins weren't all that sympathetic toward the Canucks players they battled with for two-plus weeks in June 2011.

At the top of the list of Bruins' targets? Forward Alex Burrows — who put himself in the B's crosshairs after biting Bergeron's finger in Game 1. While he had no problem pummeling Burrows for most of the series, Lucic did get some additional clarification from Bergeron himself on Tuesday.

Lucic: "Bergy, did Burrows actually f****** bite you?"

Bergeron: "Yeah."

Rich Peverley: "He's got the bite mark."

Bergeron: "Still have it."

Jannik Hansen was another Canucks forward that drew the ire of many in the Bruins' video chat:



And last but not least was Ryan Kesler — who likely won't be exchanging Christmas cards with Lucic any time soon.



Lucic: "Look at this f****** guy, Kesler. Chirping."

Ryder: "Better watch what you say on this. Never know, might get in trouble."

Lucic: "Buddy, he's not even in the league anymore. F*** 'em."

"Marty Bergeron"



The Bruins' roster already has one mayor in Walpole's Chris Wagner, but it looks as though Bergeron has also been keeping busy far beyond his regular conditioning work while staying at home with his family in Massachusetts.

Recchi: "You in Boston, Bergy?"

Bergeron: "Yep."

Marchand: "Bergy is the one who's deciding whether it's open or shut down right now. He's the mayor."

Campbell: "Marty Bergeron."

And of course, Marchand couldn't help but throw a chirp out just seconds later — this time targeting Zdeno Chara, who remained quiet for most of the evening.

Marchand: "Zee, you put up a wax figure there or what? You still with us?"

The "new Zee"



Chara's reserved presence on the call was knocked multiple times — although Rask managed to vouch for his longtime captain.

Unknown: "Hey, did Zee go to bed?"

Lucic: "No, Zee's right there. What are you talking about?"

Marchand: "He's in his tanning booth."

Rask: "You guys don't even know new Zee. He drinks like a sieve."

Milan Lucic ruined the Sabres



At one point, the conversation shifted to the beating that goaltenders used to receive on a regular basis — especially when venturing out of the crease.

Rask: "Now you can't touch anybody."

Lucic: "I wonder what happened for them to be so sensitive about it?"

Marchand: "You might have had something to do with that."

Lucic was speaking about the Nov. 2011 game in which he barreled over Sabres netminder Ryan Miller  — a move that ruffled plenty of feathers and led to an entertaining postgame rant from Buffalo's goalie.

Lucic: "He shouldn't have been standing there. Stay in your crease, no?"

Marchand: "I agree."

Kelly: "You ruined their entire season that year. Ruined it."

Marchand: "They're still trying to recover."

Lucic: "They got (Jack) Eichel because of it. What are you talking about?"

Kelly: "You ruined that organization."

Marchand vs. Kelly, Round 1



Next up on Marchand's list of targets: Chris Kelly.

Marchand: "Some guys are saying Jarvie (former Bruins assistant coach Doug Jarvis) is sitting right beside ya on the couch."

Kelly: "Jesus. We know Claude is right beside you, rubbing your shoulders. 'Don't worry Brad, it'll be okay.'

"Sorry for having a good time"



No regrets in this video conference.

Also, "NostraThomas."

Marchand vs. Campbell, Round 2:



We'll just leave this here — in all of its glory. Methinks Campbell might have a gig set up with March & Mill Co. in the near future. Talk about free publicity.

Marchand vs. Boychuk, Round 1



Even during a stretch in which Marchand was complimented for his development into one of the top wingers in the league, things went off the rails.

Campbell: "He's come a long way, that's for sure."

Marchand: "Yeah, my style is impeccable."

Johnny Boychuk: "His nose has gotten crooked-er."

Marchand: "Johnny, you dress like a picnic table."

"That's biting and complaining — coming back to bite ya"



While many Vancouver fans felt as though they didn't get much of a fair shake in this series, the Bruins offered their own take — noting that the Canucks' cheap style of play and dirty moves managed to finally catch up to them.

Ference: "You know the refs didn't like Vancouver. Watch, right away — goal (on Bergeron's shorthanded tally in the second period). 

Lucic: "Ask anyone from Vancouver, and I talked to a million of them —the referees were paid by the Bruins. They were on our side the whole time, just to let you guys know."

Ference: "That's biting and complaining — coming back to bite ya."

Lucic: "Apparently we cheated to win the Stanley Cup and the series. Just so you guys know."

A toast for Thomas:



Near the end of the festivities, Lucic also offered up a toast to Thomas — who capped off Boston's impressive run to the Cup with the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. Thomas finished that postseason with a .940 save percentage and four shutouts over 25 games played.

Lucic: "You know what, I haven't seen Timmy T in a long time. Cheers to you, Tank. ... You were our MVP that season. What you did that year — .938 save percentage in a season. ... Tank, I appreciate what you did that year. It was a historical year for a goaltender and what you did, for us to become Stanley Cup champions, I love you, man."

One final toast



And, of course, as the Bruins lifted the Cup on the ice at Rogers Arena, this rowdy crew of Zoomers closed out this virtual hangout with one final toast.

Lucic: "Let's just cheers to the fact that we got our names on the Cup and we won together. This is a family that we'll have for the rest of our lives. Love you guys."