The 2008 NHL Winter Classic [Archive]

chisox

12-31-07, 02:26 PM

This is going to be great

I love the Buffalo uniforms for tomorrow

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20071231/capt.602aaec1867041918d26d6cf1a0a2c1a.winter_classic_sabres_hockey_nydh107.jpg

Winter Classic: Players Hit the Ice Today (http://www.wgrz.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=53459)
http://www.wgrz.com/images/video.gif (http://www.wgrz.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=53459)
Monday Update: The ice is set, the Sabres and Penguins will practice this afternoon
Related Story: NHL Announces Other Events (http://www.wgrz.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=53967)

Looks like weather will NOT be a problem.....the lake effect snow is supposed to bury Niagara Falls but not Orchard Park

dabomb2045

12-31-07, 02:38 PM

Oh man I was hoping it would snow. How freaking awesome would it be to watch a hockey game in a snowstorm? Just to see how the players handled it? And btw, I'm no Sabres fan....but the team should just go back to those classic Sabres unis. You cant beat them.

AMYanks

12-31-07, 03:44 PM

Oh man I was hoping it would snow. How freaking awesome would it be to watch a hockey game in a snowstorm? Just to see how the players handled it? And btw, I'm no Sabres fan....but the team should just go back to those classic Sabres unis. You cant beat them.

They would postpone the game if there was a snow storm.

CanoForPresident

12-31-07, 04:47 PM

This game is going to be awesome. They didn't televise the Montreal Edmonton game in the US so I'm glad they're doing this.

Plus this game will lead me right into the Rose Bowl :gulp:

njdhockey

12-31-07, 05:38 PM

Just found out that I don't have to work tomorrow! I am so going to watch this! I'm digging the retro uniforms!

BroadwayBomber55

12-31-07, 06:24 PM

Bowl Games + NHL Winter Classic = Great way to kickoff the 2008 sports year.

Boogiedown Bomber

12-31-07, 09:30 PM

My wife is actually looking forward to this game. I can't wait to watch it tomorrow. Like BB55said, it is a great way to kick off the sports year.

Cattledog

12-31-07, 09:51 PM

I hope I don't have too much champagne that I will miss waking up to see the game at 1.00 tomorrow afternoon :D !

trentonthunder

01-01-08, 06:43 AM

I agree with what everyone has said. This is how hockey originated, as there were no inside/refrigerated rinks in the 1890's, so this is where my excitement comes from. I am so psyced for this game. :) :) :)

Will they ever do this at Giants Stadium in January or February of next year ?
Have the Rangers play the Islanders at 1pm, and have the Flyers play the Devils
at 7pm.

CanoForPresident

01-01-08, 09:00 AM

I agree with what everyone has said. This is how hockey originated, as there were no inside/refrigerated rinks in the 1890's, so this is where my excitement comes from. I am so psyced for this game. :) :) :)

Will they ever do this at Giants Stadium in January or February of next year ?
Have the Rangers play the Islanders at 1pm, and have the Flyers play the Devils
at 7pm.

As ridiculous as your love for the SEC is, that is a kick ass idea.

ymike673

01-01-08, 11:53 AM

I agree with what everyone has said. This is how hockey originated, as there were no inside/refrigerated rinks in the 1890's, so this is where my excitement comes from. I am so psyced for this game. :) :) :)

Will they ever do this at Giants Stadium in January or February of next year ?
Have the Rangers play the Islanders at 1pm, and have the Flyers play the Devils
at 7pm.

Why not play Islanders/Rangers at YS? Then that could be the last sports event at the Stadium.

dabomb2045

01-01-08, 12:07 PM

Getting a moderate snowfall in Buffalo right now....oh man this is gonna be fun to watch

Casey at the Bat

01-01-08, 12:08 PM

the snow is coming down! I can't wait for the puck to drop. Had to come home early from the festivities on Colorado Blvd to make sure I woke up in time for the game.

I'm psyched, and I don't even like either of the teams playing!

dabomb2045

01-01-08, 12:21 PM

Ronan Tynan!

NyQuil

01-01-08, 12:23 PM

Man here I am in Buffalo so glad I didn't wind up buying obstructed view tickets.

BroadwayBomber55

01-01-08, 12:26 PM

1-0 PIT 1st 18:21

G by Colby Armstrong :20 1st.

BroadwayBomber55

01-01-08, 12:29 PM

Nice hit by Adam Mair on Brooks Orpik. Ouch!

Casey at the Bat

01-01-08, 12:30 PM

puck is just sticking to the snow. its like playing hockey without letting the ice dry after a fresh cut.

njdhockey

01-01-08, 12:37 PM

Nice goal by Armstrong, just flat out hard work by Crosby and he banged it home. That hit on Orpik was sweet too.

Boogiedown Bomber

01-01-08, 12:42 PM

That's a pretty loud roar for a hockey game. :)

NyQuil

01-01-08, 12:44 PM

That's a pretty loud roar for a hockey game. :)

Should have been at the Party in the Plaza for the playoffs.

BroadwayBomber55

01-01-08, 01:03 PM

A lot of great action in this 1st period. A lot shots drew iron. A lot of ice repair work too.

Cattledog

01-01-08, 01:43 PM

This is a lot of fun! I am rooting for the Sabres (since the Pens are in the Atlantic Division).

BroadwayBomber55

01-01-08, 02:02 PM

1-1 after two periods.

Brian Campbell scoring the goal for the Sabres from Tim Connolly and Daniel Paille at 1:25 2nd Period.

Boogiedown Bomber

01-01-08, 02:04 PM

This is a lot of fun! I am rooting for the Sabres (since the Pens are in the Atlantic Division).

Cattledog, how could you? :eek:

Cattledog

01-01-08, 02:25 PM

Cattledog, how could you? :eek:

It all has to do with how it affects the Rangers, BB. A Pittsburgh win results in the Penguins leaping over us in the standings (by virtue of more wins and the same amount of points). A Buffalo win does not affect us at all. I know it is only January, but I think about playoff positioning all the way back to October. I know... I have no life :D !

BroadwayBomber55

01-01-08, 03:13 PM

We're going to OT.

Sabres and Penguins tied at 1-1.

Sabres applying pressure, but failed to convert. Sabres have a PP to start OT.

BroadwayBomber55

01-01-08, 03:23 PM

End of 1st Half OT.

Both teams switch sides.

BroadwayBomber55

01-01-08, 03:27 PM

We got a shootout.

Best of three. Scoring the most goals wins.

Still tied after best of three, sudden death.

BroadwayBomber55

01-01-08, 03:30 PM

1st attempt

BUF: Ales Kotalik converts

PIT: Erik Christensen misses

2nd attempt

BUF: Tim Connolly misses

PIT: Kris Letang converts

3rd attempt

BUF: Maxim Afinogenov misses

PIT: Sidney Crosby converts

Penguins win.

fredgmuggs

01-01-08, 03:36 PM

What a fun game. I don't how many people watched but the NHL has to happy with this.

BroadwayBomber55

01-01-08, 03:38 PM

What a fun game. I don't how many people watched but the NHL has to happy with this.
I'm happy. I enjoyed it, even though there were EPL soccer games and College Football games on board.

njdhockey

01-01-08, 03:38 PM

What a fun game. I don't how many people watched but the NHL has to happy with this.
I respectfully disagree. I was pumped up for this game but all of the delays, especially the first, took any flow out of the game. I was actually pretty bored and more excited to get my free EAS sample because Brady Quinn told me to. There were also long times were there was little or no action. Hopefully future outdoor games go better, this one was a flop in my book.

TheManKnownAsMecca

01-01-08, 03:42 PM

I disagree njd, the scoring was down but fans got their money worth. The atmosphere seemed to be great as the crowd as wonderful. The game going to a shootout added extra thrills for the fans as well.

njdhockey

01-01-08, 03:48 PM

I disagree njd, the scoring was down but fans got their money worth. The atmosphere seemed to be great as the crowd as wonderful. The game going to a shootout added extra thrills for the fans as well.
While I think the game itself was boring, I still love the entire theory of outdoor games. The scenery, even with the pesky snow looked amazing, the fans were loud and to see that many people there was so cool. My problem was there was no flow to the game. The 2nd period was better than the first, but it didn't take too long till the elements came in. I remember there was a rush of couple of minutes where there was action, but for the most part it was one of the most boring games I have seen in a while. The shootout was good though. Hopefully they do a better job on the ice or get better cooperation from nature next time they do this.

AMYanks

01-01-08, 04:05 PM

Exciting game, goes to a shootout, and Crosby wins it.

Today couldn't have gone better for the NHL.

Pinstripedbass

01-01-08, 04:12 PM

Will they ever do this at Giants Stadium in January or February of next year ?
Have the Rangers play the Islanders at 1pm, and have the Flyers play the Devils
at 7pm.

If they were to play a "heritage" game in the NYC area it should be on roller skates and using a roll of black electrical tape for a puck.;)

trentonthunder

01-01-08, 04:17 PM

If they were to play a "heritage" game in the NYC area it should be on roller skates and using a roll of black electrical tape for a puck.;)

Maybe Nicky Fotiu and Joey Mullen would volunteer to officiate the game.
Love to see Nicky break up some fights.

Pinstripedbass

01-01-08, 04:20 PM

I agree with njd. There was no flow to the game as it went on and as the weather deteriorated so did the conditions of the ice. There were too many stoppages for ice repairs and resurfacing.

I enjoyed watching today's game for the novelty of it and I hope the NHL schedules another outdoor game next year (how about Leafs vs. Habs outdoors). Preferrably in better weather.

ALR83

01-01-08, 04:21 PM

I had no interest in this game. I was hoping they would do Rangers/Islanders or Rangers/Devils.

Pinstripedbass

01-01-08, 04:23 PM

Maybe Nicky Fotiu and Joey Mullen would volunteer to officiate the game.
Love to see Nicky break up some fights.

Fotiu should know a little something about breaking up fights. He's been on the other side of enough fights.

Yep. Play this game in a schoolyard in College Point, where I used to play roller hockey.

frostdude1

01-01-08, 04:36 PM

I hope they make this an annual thing. Rangers vs anyone next year would be awesome :D

dabomb2045

01-01-08, 04:46 PM

I hope they make this an annual thing. Rangers vs anyone next year would be awesome :D

I'm guessing they went with Pittsburgh-Buffalo cuz they knew they would have no problem selling out the game in a big hockey market (Buffalo) and having them play the Pens allows them to showcase the NHL's golden boy Crosby on a national stage, in a game where you might not have only die-hard NHL fans watching.

I know there was some discussion last season about a Rangers-Islanders game at Yankee Stadium...but for whatever reasons it never happened.

gdn

01-01-08, 05:27 PM

Yay! Go Pens!!! :cheer:

ZYanksRule

01-01-08, 05:31 PM

That was incredibly awesome!!

Great job by the league, and that's the first time I've said that in a while.

YanksFan1992

01-01-08, 06:45 PM

Very very cool, I would like to see one involving my Leafs some time in the near future :gulp:

RJ44

01-01-08, 06:49 PM

Hey....I'm not a hockey fan, but that game was cool as hell to watch... If they every broadcast hockey on tv again, I might watch.

Boogiedown Bomber

01-01-08, 08:59 PM

I had no interest in this game. I was hoping they would do Rangers/Islanders or Rangers/Devils.

It was experience to watch, to say the least. IMO, I would like to see the Blueshirts play the Devils at the Stadium. However, given the success, it would play out at a place like Giants Stadium.

ymike673

01-01-08, 10:59 PM

I'm guessing they went with Pittsburgh-Buffalo cuz they knew they would have no problem selling out the game in a big hockey market (Buffalo) and having them play the Pens allows them to showcase the NHL's golden boy Crosby on a national stage, in a game where you might not have only die-hard NHL fans watching.

I know there was some discussion last season about a Rangers-Islanders game at Yankee Stadium...but for whatever reasons it never happened.

I would guess Buffalo was also picked as the site because the NHL wanted some snow to fall durring the game. I mean Buffalo on Jan.1. It would have been a suprise if there hadn't been any snow!

RhodyYanksFan

01-02-08, 08:06 AM

What a great game. I think this should become an annual event. Next year NYR/NYI in Giants Stadium.

jimmyclark

01-02-08, 11:06 AM

I liked it but there were a lot of repairs to the ice. They only had half the time the game in Edmonton did to get it ready because of the NFL game. I've read they tried for Yankee Stadium but couldn't "because the pipes for the water are turned off for winter". I take that to mean they aren't properly insulated.
An outdoors Montreal vs Toronto game sounds great. Let's hope it can happen in 2009.

trentonthunder

01-02-08, 11:44 AM

A lot of people who went to the game contribute to this site.
You can hear their reactions from the game if interested.

http://sabresfans.proboards66.com/index.cgi?board=Sabres

AMYanks

01-02-08, 03:43 PM

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080102.wsptnbcwclass2/BNStory/Sports/columnists

NBC exceeded audience expectations for its coverage of the Buffalo outdoor game on New Year's Day by earning a 2.6 overnight rating (percentage of the potential U.S. audience tuned in).

Sources said an American network has not produced an audience of that size for an NHL regular season game since the Fox Sports telecasts in the 1990s.

Last season, NBC's regular season NHL telecasts earned an average rating of 1.0.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08002/846090-100.stm

Penguins outdoor game was hit with TV viewers
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Yesterday's Penguins' game, played outdoors in Buffalo, N.Y., and broadcast nationwide, was apparently a hit with TV viewers.

NBC announced today the the game, known as the NHL Winter Classic, earned a 2.6 overnight rating and a 5 share, the best overnight NHL regular season rating in more than a decade

The Penguins defeated the Buffalo Sabres 2-1 in the first U.S. outdoor game in NHL history. Sidney Crosby scored the game-winning goal in a shootout.

The overnight rating also surpasses Wayne Gretzky's last game, which was broadcast on Fox (April 18, 1999, 2.5/6).

http://nbcumv.com/sports/release_detail.nbc/sports-20080102000000-nhlwinterclassico.html

Top Ten Metered Markets:
1. Buffalo 38.2/58
2. Pittsburgh 17.7/30
3. Minneapolis 5.1/11
4. Denver 3.7/7
T5. Providence 3.5/7
T5. Las Vegas 3.5/6
7. St. Louis 3.3/5
8. Boston 3.2/6
9. Sacramento 2.9/6
T10. Richmond 2.8/5
T10. Hartford 2.8/5

TheManKnownAsMecca

01-02-08, 05:52 PM

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080102.wsptnbcwclass2/BNStory/Sports/columnists

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08002/846090-100.stm

http://nbcumv.com/sports/release_detail.nbc/sports-20080102000000-nhlwinterclassico.html

For hockey that's a very good rating. However, it could have been a lot better. I say this because one of the large hockey markets was probably watching the Wolverines play an exciting game against the Gators. The Detroit market and the Buffalo market are the top two in terms of people watching on television so the fact that Michigan had a game hurt their rating somewhat. Overall it was a great success for the NHL.