Canadiens-Bruins adds heat to Winter Classic

Mike Milbury had 12 playoff runs with the Boston Bruins, and he was knocked out by the Montreal Canadiens seven times.

“I never beat them,” the NBC analyst said. “Most of the time we deserved to be beaten.”

Bruins vs. Canadiens is among the NHL’s longest-standing feuds and will be celebrated fully on New Year’s Day when the teams meet in the Winter Classic at Gillette Stadium, home of the NFL’s New England Patriots.

This will be the eighth Winter Classic and the third played at an NFL stadium. Three were at baseball parks and one at the University of Michigan. Football venues are the most desirable because they have more seats, but landing football fields Jan. 1 is challenging because the NFL still is in season. The NHL needs a couple of weeks of preparation to be ready for its annual outdoor games.

This marks the second time a Canadian-based team will be the visiting team, evidence that NBC officials think the game is strong enough to be a national draw with- out the strength of two U.S. fan bases. The long-standing rivalry between the Bruins and Canadians has generally resulted in heated games between the two.

This is not the best time for the Canadiens to be in this spotlight game because they have struggled of late, losing eight of their last 10. Meanwhile, the Bruins have been one of the NHL’s biggest surprises this season, currently sitting in a strong playoff position with a 2012-4 record.