2019 Winter Classic: Boston Bruins square off against Chicago Blackhawks
The Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks are set to give the fans a show in the 2019 Winter Classic.
The 2019 Winter Classic has a matchup between two original six franchises in the Boston Bruins and the Chicago Blackhawks. These two original six franchises have seen a lot of success in the past decade. The Blackhawks have three Stanley Cups in this decade while the Bruins have one captured in 2011.
This Winter Classic matchup is between two teams going in opposite directions. While the Bruins find themselves in playoff contention, the Blackhawks find themselves on the outside looking in. Both teams have an injury report a mile long involving key players to there rosters.
Boston Bruins Injuries
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The Bruins have seen a plethora of injuries pile up this season including the likes of captain Zdeno Chara and alternate captain Patrice Bergeron who recently just returned from a stint on injured reserve.
The blue line has been hit the worse with this injury bug with the likes of Brandon Carlo, John Moore, Kevan Miller, Charlie McAvoy, Torey Krug, and Matt Grzelcyk all missing time not one Bruins defenseman has played in every game this season.
Good news seems to be on the horizon though, with Chara, Miller, and Debrusk each likely being available for the Winter Classic game against the Chicago Blackhawks. If and when the Bruins get healthy they will most certainly look to contend at the top of the Atlantic Division. David Backes will not play in the Winter Classic, as he is serving a suspension.
Chicago Blackhawks Injuries
The Blackhawks suffered their most impactful loss when veteran netminder Corey Crawford suffered a concussion after Dylan Strome crashed into him against the San Jose Sharks. Marcus Kruger, who has missed time recently with a concussion, will play.
The final player on Chicago’s injury report is defenseman Brandon Davidson who had knee surgery on November 27 and is out indefinitely. Sure, the Blackhawks injuries are nowhere near to that of the Bruins, but the Blackhawks have dealt with a different kind of turnover with seeing core players leave for other teams as well as seeing their veterans catching up with father time.
Next. Every Team's Mount Rushmore. dark
In closing, in these Winter Classic games, you can’t judge the game on where these teams sit in the standings especially when the game involves two storied franchises. January 1, 2019 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana is a fitting location for these two teams because just like these two franchises Notre Dame Stadium is one of the most iconic venues in the United States.