Ode to the Winter Classic my favorites and cool facts!
I know what you’re all going to say: “She’s a Penguins fan so she is going to say her favorite Winter Classic was the one where Crosby scored the shootout winner.” Well, you’re all wrong! I honestly say that my top Winter Classic game was the 2010 one in Boston, with the Bruins hosting the Flyers. Everything about it was perfect. My next would be this past year’s game. There was perfect weather, two top teams, outside, back where it all began.
The game was great. A little sloppy at the end, with some goofy calls, but still a fantastic game. Both teams gave it their all for their 2 points in the standings. I will be waiting patiently for the final episode of 24/7 to air on Wednesday night to see what was said between Hartnell and Rupp, after Rupp did his Salute. I don’t think it was anything to get bent out of shape about the guys where just having a good time. But I can understand why Hartnell was upset and spoke up about it. Please HBO give us insight on the dialogue between these two!
Top Winter Classic games (by me and my standards)
1. 2010 Boston vs Philly (First and only team to win at home on the outdoor game)
2. 2012 Philly vs New York (first Penalty Shot in the outdoor game)
3. 2008 Buffalo vs Pittsburgh (biggest attendance record for the outdoor game 71,000+)
4. 2009 Red Wings vs Blackhawks (highest scoring in the outdoor game)
5. 2011 Pittsburgh vs Washington (second highest attendance record 68,000+)
Other cool notes from Wiki (I know I know wiki but it’s cool information)
Notes:
· The 2008 Winter Classic was colloquially called the "Ice Bowl" around Buffalo. As of 2011, it was also the only Winter Classic to have a shootout. It was voted the best Winter Classic in an NHL.com poll. It has been the only Winter Classic where the home team has worn white uniforms (Buffalo wore their 1970-71 away uniforms for the event).
· The 2009 Winter Classic was the first to feature two Original Six teams, as well as the first to be played in a baseball stadium.
· The 2010 Winter Classic was the first to be won by the home team. It was also the first without Ty Conklin as a goalie and Brian Campbell as a defenseman. Conklin played for Pittsburgh, and Campbell played for Buffalo in the 2008 Winter Classic. Conklin played for Detroit, and Campbell played for Chicago in the 2009 Winter Classic. This Winter Classic was also the first containing a fight, a bout that featured Philadelphia's Dan Carcillo scrapping with Boston's Shawn Thornton.
· The 2011 Winter Classic was the second involving the Pittsburgh Penguins. This was the first weekend Winter Classic and the first time the game was delayed from its original start time, thus the first to air in prime time. 2011 was also the first time it rained during the Winter Classic.
· The 2012 Winter Classic was the first game not played on New Years Day. The NFL played their final regular season games on New Years Day. The NHL scheduled for January 2, 2012 to avoid competing with the NFL and comply with NBC's contractual issues. It was the first to feature a penalty shot.
Bring on 24/7 Final Episode!! Airs Thursday January 5, 2012 at 10pm EST on HBO
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