The NHL scored another big hit with an outdoor Winter Classic that saw the Bruins defeat the Flyers 2-1 in overtime at Fenway Park on Friday January 1, 2010. What a way to ring in the New Year!!!

After a scoreless 1st period, the Flyers took a 1-0 lead in the 2nd period on Danny Syvret’s 1st goal of the NHL season.  It looked like the Flyers might emerge with a hard-fought 1-0 win at Fenway, but then former Flyer Mark Recchi’s 8th goal of the season tied the game at 1 with just over 2 minutes to play in regulation.  And less than 2 minutes into the overtime period, Marco Strum’s 14th goal of the season set the Bruins’ (and Red Sox) faithful into a tizzy.

Bruins goalie Tim Thomas and Flyers Goalie Michael Leighton each made 24 saves during the 2010 NHL Winter Classic.

During a somewhat disappointing season thus far (21-12-7, 49 points, 5th seed in Eastern Conference), it was a big win for the hometown Bruins.  Maybe the win will catapult the Bruins back to the top of the conference as the Bruins have several “east coast” games against the New York Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks and Ottawa Senators this week, before embarking on a tough 3-game west coast road trip where they will have to square off against 3 upper echelon teams – the Anaheim Ducks, San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings next week.

The Boston Bruins will take on the Philadelphia Flyers at Fenway Park for the 2010 NHL Winter Classic on New Years Day.  NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman had this to say about the announcement: “I am pleased to end the speculation on perhaps what has been the worst-kept secret there is.  In 2010, a unique and iconic event that certainly deserves a unique and iconic venue will be played here at Fenway Park… In a very short time, the Winter Classic has become a hallmark event of the NHL regular season.  Our fans have turned the Winter Classic into a time to celebrate not just the teams that happen to be playing, but our game itself.”

The Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Buffalo Sabres 2-1 in a shoot out in the inaugural Winter Classic at Ralph Wilson Stadium back in 2008.  The Detroit Red Wings defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 6-4 at Wrigley Field in the 2009 NHL Winter Classic.  Will the Flyers make it 3 straight road teams winning in the Winter Classic in 2010?  Guess we’ll have to wait and see how it all shakes out on New Years Day 2010!