This year's NHL Winter Classic was an interesting selection. The 5th WC didn't have some of the aspects that the other games had. The first one in Buffalo had A) the football stadium surrounding with all of those fans and B) Sidney Crosby. The next year in Chicago they had the game in a historic ball park, a feature that drew a lot of attention. The same thing happened the next year with the game in Fenway Park in Boston. And then who can forget the Crosby-Ovechkin matchup next year.
This season, the NHL didn't have the appeal of a historic location or a complete superstar playing in the game. The game was in the somewhat new Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia and had the Rangers matched up against the Flyers. This year the NHL went with the rivalry Winter Classic.
Did it work?
Not really.
As far as drawing in views, which is pretty much the only feedback available, this was the worst year of the Winter Classic.
2008: Pittsburgh @ Buffalo; Jan 1st; 1 PM: 2.6 Overnight rating
2009: Detroit @ Chicago; Jan 1st; 1 PM: 2.9 Overnight rating
2010: Philadelphia @ Boston; Jan 1st; 1 PM: 2.6 Overnight rating
2011: Washington @ Pittsburgh; Jan 1st; 7 PM (primetime): 2.8 Overnight rating
2012: New York @ Philadelphia; Jan 2nd; 3 PM: 2.4 Overnight rating
Well, to this game's defense, it wasn't the first WC, it wasn't in a historic ball park, it wasn't in a historic ball park, and it wasn't hyped up for months and months in advanced Crosby vs. Ovechkin. Additionally, this game was on January 2nd which may have lost a handful of views. And the fact that the start of the game was pushed back to the odd time of 3:00 didn't help.
But this doesn't necessarily matter. In my opinion, the flow of this year's game was better of the ones in years past. The players said it was because of the ice which may be. The conditions for the ice were perfect at 3 o' clock making the playing smoother. Also, while the snow in '08 was pretty awesome, the skies were clear for the most part (besides for a slight flurry that lasted just a few minutes).
The game itself was an exciting one. The first period was physical and had a great feeling to it including a Jaromir Jagr move that was more classic than the Rangers jersey. Jagr took the puck up the ice and then split the two defenseman only to have his chance denied by Rangers' goalie Henrik Lundqvist. Jagr ended up leaving the game, however, due to a groin injury.
The Flyers got 2 goals in the second (including Brayden Schenn's first career goal). The Rangers responded a couple of minutes later by Mike Rupp who ripped the puck past a screened Sergei Bobrovsky. Rupp then did his best Jagr impersonation.
In the third Rupp added another goal followed by a goal by Brad Richards 2 and a half minutes later to put the Rangers up 3-2. The game kept moving and then with 1 minute remaining, there was a controversial penalty call that I'll get to in a second. With the Flyers goalie pulled and Ryan Callahan of the Rangers racing towards the puck, Philly's Kimmo Timonen interfered with Callahan. However, the refs called matching penalties; 2 minutes to Timonen for interference and 2 minutes to Callahan for holding the stick. This kept the teams even strength on the ice.
A minute later, with 20 seconds left, this happened:
Just to remind you, Danny Briere faced Lundqvist 2 years ago on the last day of the season in the shootout to decide who made it to the playoffs. Briere won that matchup. Lundqvist won this one.
Just a stat about penalty shots in the last minute for teams down 1 goal. Shooters are now 0-11 on penalty shots with a chance to tie the game in the final minute over the last 15 years. A combination of the pressure, the choppy ice (because it's the end of the game), and the goaltending probably causes this statistic.
The Rangers held on and won 3-2.
Many argued that this incredible finished was really a fixed event so the game would have a more exciting finish. Well it definitely was that but I wouldn't go that far. What about you John Tortorella?
Go to 8:50 of this press conference. Tortorella completely bashes the reffing in the game. In my opinion, that's what he had to do. It's wrong but those calls shouldn't be acceptable in the NHL. However, the NHL fined Tortorella $30,000 for his comments about the officiating, a fair move as well.
As a blogger, I wasn't given press tickets for the game, but given that I live in Ranger territory, I had an abundance of friends who attended the festivities in Philly. As one friend put it, "Words can't even explain the experience."
From the pictures I saw, I can agree, being in a building filled with the best fans on earth, there can be nothing better. Here were a few great images:
So good job to the NHL. (On the right side of the blog, vote for your favourite Winter Classic!) See you next year in Detroit!
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