Matt Grzelcyk made his Boston return when the Penguins played the Bruins, and it was a memorable night for the defenseman and his family.
Grzelcyk has one shot and blocked two shots in Pittsburgh’s 2-1 win over the B’s at TD Garden. But the highlight moment for the 30-year-old was when he received a video tribute during a TV timeout in the first period. Fans greeted the Charlestown native with a standing ovation, including his father.
“It was great,” Grzelcyk told reporters, per Joe McDonald of The Hockey News. “It was a long day. I didn’t know what to expect. A lot of anxiousness and I wasn’t really sure what to feel. It was cool to come back and play in front of friends and family again, so I’ve been thinking about this for a long time.”
Grzelcyk was drafted by the Bruins in the 2012 NHL Draft and played eight seasons with the franchise. The blueliner signed with Pittsburgh in free agency, but he remains a fan favorite and still has the respect of former teammates like Trent Frederic.
“It was fun to see him,” Frederic said, per NESN.com’s Greg Dudek. “I thought he actually played really well. He looked good out there.”
The result didn’t go the Bruins’ way, but Grzelcyk’s video tribute did bring fans together for a nice moment Friday night.
