2011 NHL Winter Classic is Here!

The day has finally arrived, the 2011 NHL Winter Classic is here and now. The puck is set to drop at 8pm. Originally the opening faceoff was supposed to be at 1 but due to weather conditions in Pittsburgh puck drop will now take place at 8. Location for the event this year is at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh as Sidney Crosby and the Penguins take on Alexander Ovechkin and the Capitals. As previously mentioned, this is the 4th rendition of the event.

The 1st event took place in 2008 at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo NY as the Buffalo Sabres played host to the Pittsbugrgh Penguins. The Penguins won the game in a shootout. Final score of the shooutout was 2-1 as was the final score of the game. Colby Armstrong scored for the Penguins 21 seconds into the game after being set up by Sidney Crosby. Buffalo tied the game 1:25 into the 2nd period on a Brian Campbell. Neither team could score after that so the game went into a shootout before Sidney Crosby won it.

That was the first game. In 2009 the scene shifted to Wrigley Field in Chicago as the Blackhawks took on the Detroit Red Wings. Detroit took the game by a 6-4 final. By the end of the 1st period the Hawks had a 3-1 lead. Chicago got goals from Kris Versteeg and Martin Havlat on the Powerplay and Ben Eager at Even Strength. Detroit's loan goal came from Mikael Samuelsson. Moving on to the 2nd period, Detroit and their high powered offense woke up for 3 goals, 2 from Juri Hudler and one from Pavel Datsyuk to take a 4-3 lead. The 3rd period was much of the same, Detroit scoring. The Hawks got a late powerplay goal from Duncan Keith. However the Wings had already scored twice in the period, a powerplay goal from Brian Rafalski and an even strength goal from Brett Lebda. The Wings took the game 6-4.

Last year the event took place at Fenway Park in Boston Mass as the Boston Bruins took on the Philadelphia Flyers. For the 2nd time in 3 years this one, like in 2008 in Buffalo, had to go to Overtime to be decided. The Flyers got the early lead on a Danny Syvret 2nd period goal. Boston tied the game in the 3rd period on a Mark Recchi Power Play goal. The game then went into overtime and 2 minutes in Marco Sturm won the game. Here is the game winner from last year's classic:




In the 3 past Winter Classic's a trend has been associated with the event. Over the past 3 years, the road team in the Winter Classic has gone on to play in the Stanley Cup Finals. So if that trend continues then the Washington Capitals may have a date with Lord Stanley by the time June rolls around. Now on to this year's classic, it's Capitals-Penguins from Pittsburgh. Now the start time to today's game was supposed to be a t 1 but due to weather conditions in Pittsburgh opening faceoff has been pushed back to 8pm. This game does hold meaning as it is still a regular season game and 2 points are on the line just as in any regular NHL game. Besides this being Caps-Pens, its also being highlighted as Sid-Ovi which is turning into a bigger rivlary then Lemieux-Gretzky ever did. Today should be a good solid entertaning hockey game. Game starts at 8PM on NBC!