Classic indeed
Breaking down top 10 moments from NHL event that has become New Year’s mainstay,
Since its inception in 2008, the NHL’s Winter Classic has become a New Year’s Day mainstay. A multitude of memorable moments are worth revisiting before the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins clash Friday at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.:
No. 10: Bobby Clarke, Bobby Orr reunite
Two greats were tapped as honorary captains when the Philadelphia Flyers traveled to Fenway Park to take on the Boston Bruins in 2010, and it brought up the storied history between the clubs. Clarke and Orr battled over every inch of ice in the 1970s, and to see them together again in Boston was a reminder of what great traditions the Classic represents.
No. 9: A big-time debut goal
Tallying the first goal of an NHL career is unforgettable, and even more so when it comes at a venue such as Fenway. Danny Syvret had bounced around a few teams before he suited up for the Flyers in 2010. To light his first lamp, Syvret waited until he was standing on his largest stage to date, breaking the scoreless tie against the Bruins in the process.
No. 8: Marc-Andre Fleury ’s denial of Alex Ovechkin
Prolific goal scorers such as Ovechkin aren’t easily turned away, especially with a spotlight beating down on them. But in the 2011 Classic at Heinz Field between Ovi’s Washington Capitals and the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Russian superstar threw his forehand, backhand and forehand again at Fleury in an attempt to get the Caps on the board. But “Flower” would not give one of the Pens’ rivals the satisfaction.
No. 7: Pavel Datsyuk’s aweinspiring wizardry
Facing off against the Chicago Blackhawks at Wrigley Field in 2009, Datsyuk’s Detroit Red Wings had their work cut out for them after falling behind early. But with Datsyuk capable of turning defenses inside out, the Wings found a way past the Blackhawks, notching a 6-4 victory in the highest-scoring Classic to date.
No. 6: Blindsided: The Sidney Crosby story
As the Penguins were battling the Capitals in 2011, Crosby, with- out having the puck, was blindsided by David Steckel in open ice. Crosby’s head whipped around so hard and fast you knew the result wasn’t good. Pittsburgh lost 3-1, and Crosby would be sidelined for the remainder of that season and the first 20 games of the next with concussion symptoms.
No. 5: Brent Seabrook lowers the boom
The Red Wings and Blackhawks have one of the oldest rivalries in sports, and Seabrook’s hit on Daniel Cleary in 2009 will long be an indelible mark on it. Just 109 seconds into the game, Cleary stepped up to dump the puck into the Blackhawks’ zone and Seabrook smacked him so hard he flopped right over the boards and into Chicago’s bench.
No. 4: A Classic fight erupts
You don’t often see players dropping the gloves at the Classic, but regular-season tensions can still boil over to the special event. Just past the halfway mark of the first period in 2011, the Penguins’ Michael Rupp and the Capitals’ John Erskine decided they could wait no longer to scrap and gave
us the best fight in Classic history.
No. 3: Original Six teams bring the Classic back to life
Few sports franchises have more passionate fan bases than the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Red Wings, so when those clubs tussled in the 2014 Classic after the lockout nixed the event the year before, fans knew they were in for a treat. A snowstorm turned the University of Michigan’s massive venue into a picture-perfect winter wonderland. The teams on the ice delivered a showstopping affair, ending with a 3-2 shootout victory for the Maple Leafs.
No. 2: Marco Sturm’s stunning finish
Orr and Clarke earned cheers before the 2010 Classic began, but it was Sturm who elicited the hometown crowd’s most deafening roar. He took a tremendous pass from Patrice Bergeron and pocketed the overtime goal to lift the Bruins past the Flyers.
No. 1: Crosby’s shootout winner vs. the Buffalo Sabres
The 71,217 fans who braved the cold in Orchard Park, N.Y., in 2008 were rewarded with the NHL’s best player tallying the shootout winner. The fact Crosby played for the visiting team was of small consequence in a thrilling conclusion to the first Classic.