Even for just one day, the Bruins were No. 1 in Boston

There comes a point in every man's life when he must right the wrong and admit to his mistakes. And as my view on the NHL's Winter Classic has changed for the positive from just a couple of days ago, it realistically took just a matter of minutes for this 180-degree revaluation to occur.

From the moment we saw honorary captain -- No. 4, Bobby Orr -- skate onto the ice, to his pat on the butt to the Bruins' players as they hit the ice, to the nine body checks that occurred within the first five minutes of the game. One thing happened:

Hockey was back in Boston.

Even if it was for just one day, the Black and Gold were No. 1 in the city once again.

The whole Winter Classic experience was very reminiscent and nostalgic to my childhood in the early '80s growing up in Massachusetts. Where I laced the skates up at the age of four -- and played the greatest sport on earth for the next 15 years -- hockey was always the talk of the town, and Bruins' tickets were the hardest seats to find.

Throughout the whole 61:57 of action, I really felt like I was a kid again, at the original Boston Garden with my Dad, watching Bruins' greats such as Rick Middleton, Kenny Linseman, Steve Kasper, and Ray Bourque. The only times where I was reminded that I was in fact watching the game being played in a baseball park was the occasional glance at the manual scoreboard on the Green Monster, and the musical rendition of “Sweet Caroline” being played with approximately eight minutes left in the third period.

Jan. 1, 2010, was a date that was more than just a game. It was a day in which all other sports in Boston stepped aside and gave way to the Big Bad Bruins. Local sports talk radio stations and television stations alike all had a surplus of Bruins and hockey talk—something that the Red Sox, Patriots, and Celtics have dominated in Boston over this past decade.  The B's were the only thing that really mattered in the Hub, even for just one day.

Even after a second-round playoff appearance last year, there was no topping yesterday's aura and buzz in and around the city. From the nearly 40,000 fans in attendance yesterday—who came early and stayed late—to the millions of viewers watching around the world, hockey was reborn yesterday.

The rivalry game yesterday had 59 total hits between the two teams—including the first ever Winter Classic fighting major—and the Big Bad Bruins vs. The Broad Street Bullies of yesteryear was regenerated once again, even for just one day.

Mark Recchi -- an iconic figure from when I played the game -- did something that he's done 552 times before over his 21 seasons in the NHL, but once yesterday that I will truly never forget. The 41-year-old's tip-in goal, from a beautiful slap-pass from Derek Morris, was more than just a goal. At 17:42 of the third period, the future Hall of Fame forward not only netted the tying goal to send the Winter Classic into overtime, but it rejuvenated the Boston faithful at Fenway Park into near pandemonium.

And when Marco Sturm lit the lamp for the game-winner in overtime, [all made possible by the best forward on the team, No. 37] the little kid in me burst into excitement as if the Bruins had just won the Stanley Cup.

To put the icing on the cake: watching Bruins' goaltender Tim Thomas skate back onto the ice, and holding back his emotions, after being announced to Team USA wearing a Team USA sweater was enough to still give me goose bumps.

Yes, the hype surrounding the 2010 Winter Classic was built up that much that it felt like “we” won it all. Not even for a single moment did the game and event let me down. And judging by the reaction of the majority of spectators in Fenway Park after the game, I know I wasn't alone.

Even for just one day.

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