Bruins celebrate Rancourt's final regular-season game
Longtime anthem singer drops puck, performs before finale against Panthers
ByNHL.com @NHLdotcom
Rene Rancourt's final regular-season performance went out with a bang -- four of them to be specific.
The Boston Bruins sent their longtime national anthem singer off after 42 years with the organization, and Rancourt obliged the TD Garden crowd with four fist pumps after singing "The Star-Spangled Banner" prior to the Bruins season finale against the Florida Panthers on Sunday. Rancourt, who typically revs up the crowd with two or three fist pumps after singing the anthem, soaked in the remarkable ovation as he participated in a ceremonial puck drop between Bruins captain Zdeno Chara and Panthers defenseman Keith Yandle.
Besides the rousing applause, the Bruins also gave Rancourt a personalized jersey with the No. 42 on back to mark his tenure with the organization. Though Sunday was his final regular-season game, Rancourt's pregame anthem ritual will continue for at least a few more games. The Bruins will have home-ice advantage in the Eastern Conference First Round against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
