“The Boston Bruins are not just a hockey team,” Bruins captain Brad Marchand said Saturday during the unveiling ceremony. “For a century, this team has been the heart and soul of the city. When you look up at the rafters and see the names and numbers, you are reminded that those who came before us set the highest standard of excellence.

“This incredible monument behind me pays tribute and respect to the legends of the past and present who have upheld the values ​​of this great city by playing with courage, integrity and a tireless will to win, not just for themselves, but for the entire Boston community Community.” .”

Marchand was the final speaker during a 30-minute ceremony at the statue’s location in Portal Park – the small patch of green next to TD Garden with the Zakim Bridge as a backdrop.

In addition to the Bruins’ owners and front office staff, several Bruins legends were also in attendance at the event, including Orr, Phil Esposito, Ray Bourque, Willie O’Reeand other.

Governor of Massachusetts Maura Healey and Boston mayor Michelle Wu also provided comments.

The statue was sculpted by Harry Weberthe same artist who created the bronze statue of a leaping Orr that stands in front of the Bruins’ barn.

“It was a privilege to create two monuments that represent the Bruins’ storied legacy,” Weber said in a team statement. “Even though Boston is originally from St. Louis, it has always had a special place in my heart, and it means the world had the opportunity to form two symbols of the team’s greatness for such passionate fans.”

According to Bruins CEO and lieutenant governor Charlie JacobsThe bear statue stands 6 feet tall, 10 feet long and weighs more than 3,500 pounds. It consists of 90 bronze pieces welded together – all sitting on a 28-inch base with the inscription “A message to the community about the values ​​of the Boston Bruins, things we have held in our hearts for 100 years and will carry with us.” .” us as we tackle our next 100.”

For Jacobs, Saturday’s ceremony and Sunday’s extended celebrations before the puck drop against Montreal will be a fitting end to more than a year of celebrations for the Bruins’ 100th birthday.

“It’s going to be something – I really hope we can play our best tomorrow afternoon when we play the Habs,” Jacobs said. “And let’s get another W in the books. We need it.”

As for his thoughts on the Bruins’ 11-11-3 start?

“Today is about our centennial,” Jacobs said. “We’re a .500 club right now. And I think we haven’t played our best game yet.”

After another hitless performance on the power play on Friday (0 for 3), interim coach Joe Sacco reshuffled the personnel with a man advantage in training on Saturday.

David Pastrnak ran in a power play group Charlie McAvoy, Morgan Geekie, Justin BrazeauAnd Pavel Zacha. Marchand ran the “second” unit Bricklayer Lohrei, Charlie Coyle, Elias LindholmAnd Trent Frederick.

Sacco stressed that Saturday’s reshuffle was aimed at giving a “different look” to a working unit – with final decisions on those groupings having to be made before Sunday’s game.

“It’s just a matter of loosening it up,” Sacco said of separating Pastrnak and Marchand, long Boston’s top trigger men on the top power-play unit. “Maybe put two competitive groups together, and sometimes when there’s competition between them, that makes the guys go out and challenge each other more.

“So we’ll see. As I said, nothing is set in stone as to how we will proceed tomorrow.”

This was announced by the NHL Department of Player Safety Nikita Zadorov and penguins forward Evgeny Malkin were each fined $5,000 for committing penalties in the first period of Friday’s game. Zadorov poked Malkin with his stick while he was sitting on the Bruins’ bench in the final seconds of the frame, to which Malkin responded with a punch that hit Lohrei on the bench. . . Jordan Oesterle ran in a defensive pairing Brandon Carlo in practice with Parker Wotherspoon act as an additional skater. However, Sacco added that no changes to the lineup have been finalized ahead of Sunday’s game.

Conor Ryan can be reached at [email protected].