That game, of course, would be Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final, when the Bruins beat the Canucks 4-0 and hoisted the Stanley Cup for the first time since 1972. While that game won't ever be forgotten in Boston, we want to know which game that aired on NESN is your favorite.
NESN had the B's covered from their preseason trip to Prague all the way through their second-round series against the Flyers, so there's a lot to choose from. We narrowed the choices down to 10 games, and we want you to vote for your favorite. The top four vote-getters will be re-aired on NESN during a Bruins marathon on Tuesday, July 12, from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Here are your choices.
Nov. 10: 7-4 win over Penguins in Pittsburgh
In their first trip back to Pittsburgh since Matt Cooke's hit on Marc Savard, the Bruins appeared to be headed for certain defeat. They trailed 4-2 after Sidney Crosby scored with just 23 seconds remaining in the second period, but they came out flying in the third period. The Bruins got five goals from five different players to pull off a remarkable comeback, knocking off a legitimate Cup contender in the process.
Dec. 2: 8-1 win over Lightning in Boston
Marc Savard returned to the ice for the first time of the season after missing the first two months with post-concussion issues. It was an emotional return, and the Bruins amped up the intensity, scoring eight times in the rout of the team they'd end up meeting in the Eastern Conference final a few months later.
Dec. 23: 4-1 win over Thrashers in Boston
The Bruins played perhaps their flattest game of the season on Dec. 20, a 3-0 loss to the Ducks. They responded three days later with a galvanizing victory, one that was capped off by a line brawl. That scuffle began when Milan Lucic absorbed a cheap clothesline from Freddy Meyer late in the game. Andrew Ference stood up for his teammate and dropped the gloves with Meyers. A melee ensued, and Boston walked away looking like the Big Bad Bruins of old.
Feb. 3: 6-3 win over Stars in Boston
Three fights in four seconds. That's all you really need to know about this one. Gregory Campbell, Shawn Thornton and Adam McQuaid each dropped the mitts in the opening seconds, as the B's were looking to send a message to a Western Conference opponent with whom they have a bit of a history. Four first-period goals helped the Bruins enjoy this game even more.
Feb. 9: 8-6 win over Canadiens in Boston
This high-scoring affair with fists flying all over the place was a flashback to the '70s. The first period saw two goals and a combined 24 penalty minutes. The second period saw a ridiculous eight goals and a just-as-ridiculous 36 penalty minutes. In the third period, there were four more goals scored and 122 penalty minutes handed out. Included in that mess was a goalie fight between Tim Thomas and Carey Price in the second period.
Feb. 26: 3-1 win over Canucks at Vancouver
The Bruins went on a long road trip in February, which came at an important time, when the team was welcoming new faces like Chris Kelly, Rich Peverley and Tomas Kaberle. The bonding period included a perfect 6-0 trip, including a big win against the Canucks, the team with the best record in the NHL. Milan Lucic, a Vancouver native, fittingly scored the game-winner in what proved to be a Stanley Cup preview.
April 21: 5-4 win over Canadiens in overtime of Game 4 in Montreal
The season appeared to be over. Trailing 2-1 in the series, the Bruins had no room for error. Yet in a span of 55 seconds, a 1-1 game turned into a 3-1 deficit. The Bruins never gave up, though, and scored twice before the end of the second period to knot the game at 3-3. The Canadiens took another lead in the third, and the Bell Centre crowd was deafening, but Chris Kelly soon quieted them. The game headed to overtime, and Michael Ryder needed just two minutes to score the game-winner. A possible 3-1 series hole turned into a 2-2 series tie – all because the Bruins refused to give up.
April 23: 2-1 win over Canadiens in double overtime of Game 5 in Boston
A double-overtime playoff game against the hated Canadiens is not one that will ever be forgotten in Boston. After the Bruins had battled back to even the series at two games apiece, they nearly let Game 5 slip away. They lost a 1-0 lead midway through the third, and the goals stopped for a while. A long while. That was partly thanks to Tim Thomas' unforgettable diving save on Brian Gionta in double overtime — a stop that came just minutes before Nathan Horton banged home a rebound to give the Bruins a win and the series lead.
April 27: 4-3 win over Canadiens in overtime of Game 7 in Boston
Face it: Bruins history isn't filled with too many triumphs over the Canadiens in the playoffs. For every great Bruins moment, there are five that favor Les Habitantes. So when P.K. Subban scored the game-tying goal with just 1:57 remaining in Game 7, things in Boston got tense. This, however, was no ordinary year, as the Bruins rallied in the locker room after the third. Just 5:43 into overtime, a Nathan Horton shot deflected off a Canadiens player and into the net. It was only the first round, but it was clear that the Bruins were in the middle of something very, very special.
May 6: 5-1 win over Flyers in Game 4 in Boston
There was no talking about the 2011 Bruins without mentioning the 2010 Bruins. This year's team carried some heavy baggage into the postseason, after blowing a 3-0 series lead and 3-0 lead in Game 7 against the Flyers in the Eastern Conference semifinals a year ago. It's safe to say they excorcised those demons this year. The B's outcored Philly 20-7 (and it wasn't even that close) in the series, capped off with a 5-1 win in front of a raucous Garden crowd. The win sent the B's on to the Eastern Conference final for the first time since 1992.
What was your favorite Bruins game from the 2010-11 season that aired on NESN?online surveys
Voting will run until Thursday, July 7, at 3 p.m., when the top four games (by percentage) will be announced.
