The next in a series of blogs reviewing some of my favourite moments from the just-completed 2010-11 National Hockey League season:
Consistently, the best thing the National Hockey League does outside of the Stanley Cup Playoffs is the Winter Classic. What started as a gimmick on New Year's Day in 2008 is now one of the most anticipated sporting events of the year, and has somewhat taken hockey back to the mainstream, scoring great ratings for NBC on a day normally reserved for college football. Outdoor hockey on a specially-designed rink inside a football or baseball stadium, taking the game back to it's roots, reminding players of the old days, growing up, skating on ponds and makeshift outdoor rinks to hone their skills.
After the snow globe effect game in 2008 at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo between the Sabres and the Pittsburgh Penguins, we saw the Chicago Blackhawks renew their long-time rivalry with the Detroit Red Wings at the home of the Chicago Cubs, Wrigley Field (2009) and the Boston Bruins take to Fenway Park, headquarters of the Boston Red Sox, against the Philadelphia Flyers (2010). All were tremendous events, adding to the lore of the Winter Classic. In 2011, to the delight of most hockey fans, the NHL scheduled the game's greatest modern rivalry, Pittsburgh and the Washington Capitals for Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, home of the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers.
Right from the get-go, this one had all the makings of a classic. The marquee match-up in the NHL, the two greatest stars in the game right now, Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin in front of more than 70,000 people. NBC were looking at huge numbers, with the two most recognisable stars - and, by extension, the two most recognisable teams - going at it against some pretty weak college football bowl games.
Then the rain came, early on New Year's Day in the Steel City to throw a spanner in the works. It was perhaps the greatest blessing in disguise that the NHL could possibly have asked for. A window in the bade weather would occur, according to the meteorologists, around 8.00pm local. So NBC and the League decided to postpone the game until then. That's right: outdoor hockey, Crosby vs. Ovechkin, live on NBC in prime time! It rarely gets better than that.
And what a contest! A scoreless first period that saw a spirited stoush between hard men Mike Rupp and John Erskine gave way to an exciting final forty minutes. Pittsburgh went up 1-0 on a brilliant breakaway goal, a hard shot from Penguins sniper Evgeni Malkin that got past his Russian colleague, Capitals goalie Semyon Varlarmov at 2:13 of the second. Washington drew level on a power play tally to Mike Knuble at 6:54 and the stage was set.
Above: Malkin's first period breakaway goal
Above: John Erskine and Mike Rupp fight
From there, it was most definitely the Eric Fehr Show. The Capitals forward took the big game by the scruff of the neck, scoring the final two goals of the game for a 3-1 Washington Victory on enemy ice. It rained late, and although the standard of play perhaps slipped somewhat due to the precipitation, it was incredible to see the trails of water coming off of the player's skates. What an epic HD moment.
Above: Eric Fehr's second goal of the game, the game-winner
The Winter Classic gets better and better, as the league and it's ice creation gurus get a better handle on what it takes to build a great sheet outdoors. What's better is that the game attracts a lot of casual fans who may only watch the Winter Classic and a handful of Stanley Cup Final games each year. Getting live coverage from NBC undoubtedly helps, but as does the novelty of the moment, seeing the superstars of today skating outdoors, and clearly having the time of their lives. As long as the League ensure there aren't too many outdoor games to avoid saturation and boredom, the concept is one that's never going to get old.
The 2012 version shifts to Citizen's Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 2012, this time to be played on January 2nd (to avoid a clash with the ratings juggernaut that is the NFL) and will feature the Flyers against their long-time rivals, the New York Rangers. As a Rangers fan, I can hardly wait!!
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