BOSTON, Oct. 4 (UPI) -- After honoring Ray Bourque during an emotional pregame ceremony Thursday night, the Boston Bruins treated new coach Robbie Ftorek to a season-opening, 4-2 victory over the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.
Bourque retired this summer after winning his first career Stanley Cup with Colorado. He had spent the first 20-plus seasons of his career with Boston before being traded in March 2000.
The Bruins honored Bourque with a 35-minute ceremony that featured the best players in team history, including Hall of Famers Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito.
Bourque ended the ceremony with an emotional speech, thanking everyone from his former teammates and agent to his family. Helped by his wife and three children, Bourque raised his retired No. 77 to the rafters at FleetCenter, joining seven other former Bruins who have been so honored.
Despite defenseman Nick Boynton's goal 5:38 into the game, the Bruins had trouble dictating the pace of the game against one of the NHL's worst teams. But they scored three times in the second period.
Joe Thornton, Brian Rolston and Sergei Samsonov also tallied for Boston, which gave Ftorek a win in his Bruins' coaching debut.
Anaheim's Bryan Murray was not as fortunate, losing the debut with his new squad. The Ducks had two coaches last season en route to the worst record in the Western Conference (25-41-11-5).
