Boston Bruins honor Patriots at TD Garden before their game against the New York Islanders

Boston Globe photo

It's often talked about how Boston sports are like a brotherhood and it's on display fairly regularly. Last night was no exception.

Before the Boston Bruins got set to take on the New York Islanders in an important hockey game at TD Garden, the B's honored over a dozen Patriots players, as well as Robert and Jonathan Kraft. Among the players were Julian Edelman, Phillip Dorsett, Derek Rivers, Deatrich Wise Jr., Marcus Cannon, David Andrews and more.

Andrews and Edelman provided the biggest highlights of the quick, two-minute ceremony, as Andrews stole Charlie McAvoy's stick on his way to center ice, and Edelman made up for Rob Gronkowski's absence at the game by spiking the puck at center ice during what was supposed to be the ceremonial puck drop.

David Andrews jacked Charlie McAvoy’s stick 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/DN2jpWLJaO

— Marina Molnar (@mkmolnar) February 6, 2019

Super Bowl MVP Julian Edelman with the puck smash #NHLBruins #Bergy1000 pic.twitter.com/X4LBCoXMDF

— Marina Molnar (@mkmolnar) February 6, 2019

The Pats were treated to a pretty entertaining game as well, as the Bruins won 3-1 and got two goals from Patrice Bergeron in his 1,000th game.

Bergeron, head coach Bruce Cassidy and goaltender Tuukka Rask, who was in net and played brilliantly, were all happy to see their fellow Boston athletes.

NESN:

“Well, a few of them were in our room before,” head coach Bruce Cassidy said, “and I met Mr. Kraft and his son, so it’s a great honor for us to be around those guys, their culture of winning. They look like they’re having some fun doing it, which is important as well, so hopefully it rubs off on us a little bit.

“I think they’re the franchise probably every pro sport right now that people would want to emulate in terms of winning and success,” Cassidy added. “They’ve done it year after year. We’re no different. We’d like to follow in their footsteps and get some championships for ourselves. But, I guess the energy of the building, having them around for me, I thought it was great. It was an honor to have those guys around and again, they looked like they were happy to be here, having a good time, as well they should.”

“Yeah, thank God. That was perfect. I was very happy with that,” Bergeron semi-joked.

“It was awesome,” he later added. “There was so many of them too. It was actually great to see, and you know, they came in the locker room before the game and we told them obviously we were cheering for them and it was an amazing ride again this year, and you know, I thought that the crowd was really into it and that set the tone for a great night.”

“Well I think the energy was great,” the netminder said. ” I’m sure that the crowd was well lubed up from the parade this afternoon so that might have helped. You know that was a great atmosphere, it was awesome. Those guys stopped by the locker room before and gave us some energy too so it was good to see that. Here in Boston we try to stick together and support each other so I’m really happy for the Pats.”

All in all, yesterday was a pretty historic day in Boston sports.

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