For years all we heard about The Winter Classic was that, 1. It was outdoors. 2. It was played on New Years day. 3. It brought the players back to their pond hockey days. 4. If it snowed it would be Norman Rockwell like.
Now we have a new one. They played a great hockey game at Citizens Bank Park in front of 46, 967 semi-frozen fans. The Flyers jumped out to a 2-0 lead on goals by Brayden Schenn, his first of the season, and Claude Giroux. The Rangers bounced back to tie the game on two goals by Mike Rupp, his 2nd and 3rd of the season. Mike was rewarded for his heroics by getting all of 7:34 of ice time. Brad Richards got the game winner, his 14th, in the third and that goal seemed to ignite the Flyers after a timeout.
With 1:06 left in the game, Ryan Callahan and Kimmo Timonen went off with matching penalties. The Flyers pulled their goalie, Sergei Bobrovsky for an additional skater and they stormed the net. Ryan McDonagh was called for closing his hand on the puck in the crease and the Flyers were awarded a penalty shot. Danny Briere was given the honors with 19.6 seconds to go in the game and His Majesty, King Henrik Lundqvist rose to the occasion with a great save. Game. Set. Match.
Lundqvist was great, despite giving up two early goals. He made 34 saves including a couple of breakaways and a special one on old nemesis, former Ranger, Jaromir Jagr. He was a rock in the net and right now he is carrying the team. Yes we have Gabby, Cally, Brad, Girardi and now Staal is back. But Lundqvist is the man and we will go only so far as the elegant Swede will take us.
It was quite a game, The Winter Classic. The two teams compiled a total of 91 hits. Fifty were credited to the Rangers. Scott Hartnell led all the warriors with 13 hits, followed by Callahan with 11 and Dubinsky with 10. It was the best Classic ever played. However the game stood on its own and the Rangers picked up two big points against their arch rivals and their surprising place at the top just solidified more and got more surprising.
Rupp Hat
Veteran Mike Rupp brought with him much big-game experience into this year's Winter Classic. On his resume was a Stanley Cup championship, a Cup-winning goal, and last year's Winter Classic experience, among other big moments. Monday afternoon at Citizens Bank Ballpark, Rupp sparked the Rangers comeback from a 2-0 deficit by scoring a pair of goals---his second and third of the season---to pull his team even before Brad Richards scored the evntual game-winner 5:21 into the third period of a 3-2 victory. As a result, Rupp exited the baseball stadium of the Philadelphia Phillies with the Broadway Hat. "It was a whole team effort, and I just got to shoot the puck twice and it went in," a modest Rupp explained after the game...
| G | Per | Time | Str | Team | Goal Scorer | Assist | Assist |
| 1 | 2 | 12:26 | EV | PHI | B.Schenn(1) | M.Carle(17) | |
| 2 | 2 | 14:21 | EV | PHI | C.Giroux(18) | M.Talbot(7) | Hartnell(18) |
| 3 | 2 | 14:51 | EV | NYR | M.Rupp(2) | B.Prust(6) | Mitchell(5) |
| 4 | 3 | 02:41 | EV | NYR | M.Rupp(3) | B.Prust(7) | Mitchell(6) |
| 5 | 3 | 05:21 | EV | NYR | B.Richards(14) | Dubinsky(15) | Callahan(16) |
| - | 3 | 19:40 | EV-PS | PHI | D.Briere | Unsuccessful Penalty Shot | |
That was a great game. Can't remember when I've enjoyed a game as much. Now can we please see the Rangers bring 50 hits to every game. Even half that number would be good.
AWESOME game by the Rangers. Lundqvist was the man. Staal is back. Spoiling Philly's party. I am walking on air today.
jb-Yes it was a great game with a lot of sub plots. I think they counted every time the players brushed by each other as a hit.
Wes-Enjoy it. Its a long season with a lot of pot holes, both real and imagined.