The Bruins are expected to play the Sabres as scheduled tonight at TD Garden in the first pro sports game in the city since Monday’s bombings.
In wake of the tragic events from Monday’s Boston Marathon, the Bruins game scheduled for Monday night was postponed and Tuesday night’s Celtics game was outright cancelled. Both games were scheduled to take place at TD Garden, roughly two miles from the finish line.
The Bruins were scheduled to host the Ottawa Senators Monday at 7 p.m., but late Monday afternoon the Bruins announced they game would not be played as scheduled.
“After consultation with City, State and NHL officials we collectively made the decision to postpone [Monday’s] game,” Bruins President Cam Neely said in a statement. “Public safety personnel from the City and State are still gathering information regarding today’s events and it is vital they have all resources available for their investigation. The thoughts and prayers of everyone in the Bruins organization are with the city of Boston and all those affected by today’s tragedy.”
Tuesday afternoon it was announced by the NHL the game will be rescheduled for Sunday, April 28 at 7 p.m. The Bruins are scheduled to play their 7 p.m. game Wednesday against Buffalo.
For the Celtics, their game was outright cancelled against the Pacers as the game had no real meaning with the Celtics locked in as the No. 7 seed and the Pacers the No. 3 seed. This will be the first time in NBA history where two teams will play 81 games, instead of the standard 82. The Celtics announced Tuesday afternoon that all tickets purchased for the game will be fully refunded. They will host Game 3 of their first round series with the Knicks at TD Garden sometime next week.
The team held practice at their practice facility in Waltham, Mass. Tuesday morning, where many spoke of the tragedy, many saying it didn’t feel right playing Tuesday night’s game.
“I didn’t want to play the game. We made that clear — Rich and Wyc [Grousbeck] and our ownership, they were great,” coach Doc Rivers told reporters. “It wasn’t the right place, it really wasn’t, to be playing a game of basketball [Tuesday]. No one would have been into it. No one wanted to go to it. Honestly, we just wanted to make sure that — so many people are doing so many things right now, and their focus is there and that’s where it should stay. It shouldn’t be on a basketball game. This has nothing to do with safety, it was more what was right.”
It also hit close to home for the team, particularly Rivers who was actually on his way to the finish line when the bombs exploded.
“I always go down after practice and watch, I’ve done it every year that we’ve been in town, because I live literally two blocks from the finish line,” said Rivers. “I was on my way actually, I had just gotten out of the [Prudential] tunnel, when the bomb exploded. It’s just awful. It takes the joy out of sports — because that’s what sports is supposed to bring is joy. It took all the joy out of the event and out of the day.”
Forward Jeff Green spoke of the strength of the city and how the team, and he personally, will do anything to help.
“I know this is a strong city,” Green said. “I think we’re going to do everything possible to help the victims and families and help the city come back and get back to the way it was. It’s going to be tough, because I don’t think the city really had anything like this happen before. Whatever we can do, whatever I can do, I’m willing to help, because it’s a tough thing to get through.”
