2012 NHL Winter Classic

A week ago the New York Rangers & Philadelphia Flyers played an outdoor hockey game at Citizens Bank Park, known only as the NHL Winter Classic. The build up to this game was incredible thanks to the folks over at HBO because of their 24/7 series that followed the teams for most of December leading up to the big game on January 2. Citizens Bark Park looked great and there were even additional seats added over where the bullpen is out in center field. As I watched the pregame, I couldn't help but think back to last July when I had the privilege to go to Citizens Bank Park for a Phillies game vs San Francisco. It was incredible how different the Park looked thanks to the NHL crew. As a fan I was on edge watching the game because the Rangers were only 2 points up on the Flyers in the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference.

The first period was a great battle and after 1 the game was scoreless. In the 2nd period however, the Flyers gained a 2-0 advantage and I was angry. There was an almost immediate response by Mike Rupp of the Rangers with a goal and a Jagr salute to the crowd which angered the Flyer Faithful and after 2 the Flyers had a 2-1 lead. In the 3rd period, Mike Rupp was at it again, scoring another goal 2:41 into the 3rd which tied the Winter Classic 2-2. A little under 3 minutes later, Brad Richards scored for the Rangers giving them the lead and over in New Jersey I was jumping up and down at my friends house. After that, the rest of the game was exciting, especially when Danny Briere of the Flyers was awarded a penalty shot with 19.6 seconds to go. When Henrik Lundqvist denied Briere, myself and Ranger fans across the world knew the game was far from over. The last 19.6 went by and after the horn tempers flared in front of the Rangers net but after the refs separated the teams, the fireworks went off and the New York Rangers were on top of the Atlantic Division, Eastern Conference & the NHL. I for one enjoyed the game and hopefully sometime soon the Rangers will be  the home team for a Winter Classic.

Here are 10 future Winter Classic sites I would love to see:

1. Rangers vs Devils or Islanders at Yankee Stadium
2. Devils vs Rangers at MetLife Stadium
3. Red Wings vs Maple Leafs at Michigan Stadium
4. Stars vs Kings at Cowboys Stadium
5. Penguins vs Flyers at Beaver Stadium
6. Wild vs Stars at Target Field
7. Blues vs Kings at Busch Stadium
8. Blackhawks vs Bruins at Solider Field
9. Captials vs Penguins at FedEx Field
10. Avalanche vs Red Wings at Mile High Stadium or Coors Field

I don't see the Rangers playing in another Winter Classic next year but hopefully sooner rather then later. A Winter Classic at Yankee Stadium would be incredible, Fenway's had theirs, Wrigley's had theirs and now Citizens Bank Park has had one. I also wouldn't mind seeing the Devils hosting one at MetLife Stadium. I next years host will likely be a Western Conference team and will be played in Detroit, St. Louis, Minnesota or Denver. Only time will tell where the next Winter Classic will be played. 

One last thing before I wrap up this post. This is for all my fellow WWE fans who accurately predicted Chris Jericho's return to the company on the same day as the Winter Classic, January 2. There was a picture of Jericho arriving in Nashville that morning for RAW which was about 180 miles away in Memphis. Jericho got note of the picture and tweeted that he "had been cloned". He retweets some fans cropped pictures of him in various places around the world like Egypt, Paris, Gettysburg, Kim Jong-Il's funeral, Abbey Road and from a tweet from yours truly at the Winter Classic. I had gotten the idea to do the Winter Classic picture because Jericho's father Ted Irvine played for the Rangers and I decided to crop the airport picture into the Winter Classic Alumni game. For all of you in disbelief that I was the one behind the picture, here's a link for the retweet from Jericho's twitter. https://twitter.com/#!/IAmJericho/status/153883496253886465

I'll be back tomorrow with an NFL Divisional Round Preview.

Until the STAY TUNED!