Tuukka Rask pays tribute to Patriots with Winter Classic mask

Any time it seemed like the Bruins and Canadiens rivalry was losing its cache, something would light its fire once again. Next stop, Gillette Stadium.

Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask is set to start Friday’s Bridgestone Winter Classic and he will be armed with a new mask that features nods to several regional stars.

Rask will sport a mask courtesy of airbrush artist Sylvie Marsolais that features New England Patriots Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, and Julian Edelman, as well as a depiction of the old Boston Garden.

Mike Condon, the starter for the Montreal Canadiens, also had a nod to the Patriots on his newly designed outdoor mask.

The 28-year-old goaltender will be making his first Winter Classic start, although he served as Tim Thomas’s backup when the Bruins faced the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2010 outdoor game.

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Rask is 14-9-3 with a 2.41 goals-against average and .918 save percentage in 26 games this season.

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