NHL - Winter Classic - Friday, January 01, 2016

Montreal Canadiens @ Boston Bruins 5-1
The Montreal Canadiens opened the new year with a bang at the 2016 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic at Gillette Stadium after spiraling down the Atlantic Division standings in the final days of 2015. The Canadiens got five goals from four players, six points from a top line that was together for the first time in 18 games, and 27 saves from goalie Mike Condon to defeat the Boston Bruins 5-1 at Gillette Stadium.
Brendan Gallagher had a goal and an assist in his first game since sustaining a hand injury Nov. 22. Linemates Max Pacioretty and Tomas Plekanec each had two points, including a goal by Pacioretty. Paul Byron scored two goals and David Desharnais had one for the Canadiens, who moved back into first place in the Atlantic Division with the win. Montreal relinquished the top spot going 3-11-0 in December.

Matt Beleskey scored and goalie Tuukka Rask made 25 saves for the Bruins, who were playing without injured center David Krejci and suspended left wing Brad Marchand. The Bruins' top-ranked power play went 0-for-3. The only blemish on the day for the Canadiens was the upper-body injury Dale Weise sustained in the second period. He did not return to the game after leaving with 14:51 remaining in the period.
The temperature at puck drop was 40.6 degrees Fahrenheit and the 67,246 fans didn't have to wait long for some action after a round of pregame festivities that featured musicians from the Boston Pops and renditions of "O Canada" performed by Simple Plan and "The Star-Spangled Banner" performed by Jordan Smith.

Desharnais gave Montreal a 1-0 lead with his eighth goal of the season 74 seconds into the game. Byron and Gallagher scored in the second period to build a 3-0 lead. The best save for Condon, who grow up in nearby Holliston, Mass., came with 0.1 seconds remaining in the second period, when he robbed center Ryan Spooner of a goal with a sprawling glove save.

Beleskey made it 3-1 with his eighth goal at 3:56 of the third period, scoring with a deflection of Adam McQuaid's shot from the point. Jimmy Hayes was in front of Condon acting as a screen. Pacioretty gave Montreal a 4-1 lead with his 16th goal at 8:49 of the third. Gallagher set him up with a saucer pass on a 2-on-1 that came about when Frank Vatrano fell down trying to backcheck.
Montreal's first four goals were all a result deft hand-eye coordination.

Desharnais knocked the puck toward the goal by batting the puck out of the air. Joe Morrow had a chance to play the puck at the goal line but inadvertently nudged it into the net. Byron made it 2-0 with his first goal at 2:00 of the second period after Brian Flynn left the puck for him in the slot with a perfect tip of Mark Barberio's backhand pass from the right-wing half wall. Byron also scored at 18:28 of the third period. Gallagher's goal that made it 3-0 was off a double tip, first from Pacioretty and then from Gallagher. Pacioretty batted the puck out of the air to Gallagher, who then batted it into the net from the slot.
Penalties

1st Period
05:20 BOS	Max Talbot  Hi-sticking against  Brian Flynn
08:42 MTL	David Desharnais  Roughing against  Torey Krug
08:42 MTL	David Desharnais  Roughing against  Torey Krug
08:42 BOS	Torey Krug  Roughing against  David Desharnais
08:42 BOS	Torey Krug  Roughing against  David Desharnais
18:27 BOS	Adam McQuaid  Delaying Game-Puck over glass
2nd Period
02:51 BOS	Kevan Miller  Cross checking against  Dale Weise
06:43 MTL	Lars Eller  Hooking against  Brett Connolly
10:41 MTL	Nathan Beaulieu  Holding against  Loui Eriksson
19:30 MTL	Tomas Plekanec  Delaying Game-Puck over glass
3rd Period
09:24 BOS	Max Talbot  Holding against  Daniel Carr
18:18 MTL	Lars Eller  Roughing against  Jimmy Hayes
18:18 MTL	Lars Eller  Roughing against  Jimmy Hayes
18:18 BOS	Jimmy Hayes  Roughing against  Lars Eller
18:18 BOS	Jimmy Hayes  Roughing against  Lars Eller