Prior to defeating the Boston Bruins 2-1 in overtime on Saturday, New York Rangers coach Peter Laviolette had a front row seat to the Bruins honoring their 'Lunch Pail A.C.' era, the childhood team of the Franklin, Massachusetts native.
BOSTON – Saturday was a special night at TD Garden for Peter Laviolette.
The New York Rangers coach saw his side orchestrate a third-period comeback to defeat the Boston Bruins 2-1 in overtime. Rangers forward Vincent Trocheck scored both goals for New York. However, Laviolette’s night was made before the puck even dropped.
The Massachusetts native got to see his childhood heroes honored by the Bruins, who were celebrating the ‘Lunch Pail Athletic Club’ era of 1977-1985, characterized by a physical play style, as part of their Centennial season tributes.
“All of those guys that came out on the ice, they were the original Bruins for me as a kid growing up in Franklin, Massachusetts,” Laviolette said.
Ray Bourque, Terry O’Reilly, Mike Milbury and John Wensick were among the Bruins players of that era that were recognized before the game. Some emerged from the penalty box as a fitting representation of how much time the players on those teams spent there; O’Reilly (2,095 penalty minutes), Milbury (1,552) and Bourque (1,087) rank first, second and fifth, respectively, in career penalty minutes in Bruins history.
To end the tribute, the former players collectively assisted Normand Leveille out of his wheelchair for the ceremonial puck drop. Leveille’s NHL career was cut short in 1982 when a brain aneurysm took away his ability to walk.
“Just the whole fact that we were invited back is just huge,” Wensick said. “Huge honor for me being one of the honorary or legendary 100 players. It’s just a huge honor.”
Laviolette was particularly excited to see Milbury, who hired him to his first NHL head coaching job with the New York Islanders in 2001. He spent just two seasons on Long Island, but Laviolette said he and Milbury, the former general manager, still have a “special bond.”
“I owe Mike an awful lot,” Laviolette said. “He gave me my first job in the NHL as a head coach, and I really enjoyed working with him.”
Even Bruins coach Jim Montgomery – who grew up a Canadiens fan in Montreal – got in on the action, channeling former Bruins coach Don Cherry with a checkered black-and-gold vest.
“I remember just how hard it was,” Montgomery said. “Each game just seemed like it was a war.”
Despite standing behind the visiting bench, the 59-year-old Laviolette couldn’t help but feel the nostalgia.
“Now I’m really dating myself: That’s when you had five channels, and when the Bruins came on [channel] 38 back then, it was awesome,” Laviolette said. “To see a guy like Terry O’Reilly out there. I mean, I watched him fight so many times, Stan Jonathan [too], so good stuff.”