The Boston Bruins 2014-2015 season is one that many fans would probably like to forget. After missing the playoffs for the first time in eight years as well as the firing of former general manager Peter Chiarelli, there doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of positive moments throughout the year. Despite that, in no particular order, here are some of the best moments from the Bruins 2015 season.
Bruins Fist Bump Kid
Liam Fitzgerald, also known as “The Fist Bump Kid” caught the attention of not only hockey fans, however sports fans on a global basis. In a regular season game, the Bruins gave Liam the opportunity of a lifetime by sitting him on the Bruins bench during pre-game warmups where he was greeted by the entire team with a fist bump. The moment was not only cute, but incredibly inspirational. Lets just hope that the next time Gregory Campbell meets Liam, he lightens up on the fist pound. Ouch!
Gronk Spike
Here’s a moment that was completely unexpected, however given Rob Gronkowski‘s track record, we should’ve expected nonetheless. On February 7, the Bruins invited players from the New England Patriots after winning Super Bowl XLVIII. Just when fans thought the ceremonial puck drop was over, the Patriots tight end pulled a puck from his pocket, and spiked the puck on the ice – something Gronkowski has always done with the football he scores a touchdown with. Gronk exerted so much force into the spike that he managed to spike the puck over the glass and into the stands – proving that the puck was, in fact, not deflated.
Shawn Thornton Returns to the TD Garden
Shawn Thornton brought a lot of emotion to every game he played for the Bruins, so it wasn’t unexpected that his return to the TD Garden would be emotional as well. Not only was Thornton the tough-guy enforcer of the team, however he is also the founder of the Shawn Thornton Foundation, which fights to improve the lives of those who have been affected by cancer and Parkinson’s disease. Everyone who’s met Thornton knows how nice of a guy he really is – which is a big reason as to why he is so missed in Boston.
Bruins Fans Chant “Johnny Boychuk!” in His Return to the TD Garden
Much like Thornton, defenseman Johnny Boychuk plays every game with emotion and heart. He is most known for his massive hockey hits and dominance on the blue-line. Since Boychuk’s departure from Boston, the Bruins have had nowhere near as many huge hockey checks, and their defense has struggled from time to time. This just goes to show how big of a role Boychuk played with the Bruins, as well as how much the fans of the team appreciated him.
The Rise of David Pastrnak
David Pastrnak’s success started to kick-off on January 13th when he scored two goals against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Many were unsure of Pastrnak’s ability considering he was just 18-years old – however he proved many times throughout the season that he was ready to take on the challenge of being one of the Bruins’ most effective forwards. Pastrnak also won the annual NESN 7th Player Award – which is awarded to the player who went above and beyond expectations in a season.
Seth Griffith’s Two Amazing Highlight-Reel Goals
Seth Griffith was somewhat of a surprise last season. He was a relatively good player with the Providence Bruins, but nobody expected him to score the goals he did for the Bruins. Whether it was a no-look between the legs goal, or a goal that simulated Bobby Orr’s famous 1970 Stanley Cup Championship goal, Griffith exceeded expectations. Despite the fact that Griffith was later sent back down to the Providence Bruins, it’s only a matter of time that Griffith finds himself a secure roster spot in the big leagues.
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