The Montreal Canadiens put in a dominant performance to record a 5-1 win over the Boston Bruins in the NHL Winter Classic in Foxboro, Massachusetts.
The home of the NFL's New England Patriots was transformed for the traditional New Year's Day fixture which sees one regular season game played outside with teams wearing retro uniforms.Â
And it was a Boston native who proved the Bruins' principal obstacle, Mike Condon stopping 27 shots while Paul Byron scored twice for the Canadiens.
Brendan Gallagher, back in the side after two broken fingers, had a goal and an assist for Montreal while David Desharnais and Max Pacioretty also scored for the visitors.
Tuukka Rask stopped 25 shots for the Bruins, but could not keep out Matt Beleskey's third-period shot and ensure the first shutout in Winter Classic history, although the four-goal margin was the largest for the event since it began in 2008.
Since the first was held in Buffalo in 2008, the league has expanded it's outdoor regular-season schedule with the "Stadium Series" of games and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said this week the league plans to continue them.
"There is almost an insatiable appetite for these games," Bettman said. "These games are on our schedule as we are projecting years out."
The win was just Montreal's third in 13 games, but their eighth straight road win against Boston.Â
Both goalies paid tribute to the Patriots and quarterback Tom Brady on their masks, and coach Claude Julien worked the Bruins bench in a hoodie straight from the wardrobe of his NFL counterpart, Bill Belichick.
"We wanted to pay tribute to their success and some of their players," said Rask.
