Classic Memories: Sidney Crosby on center stage
Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates against of the New York Islanders. (Dec. 29, 2010) Credit: Jim McIsaac
The most memorable hockey moment in the NHL Winter Classic came in the first, when the young face of the sport, Sidney Crosby, beat Sabres goalie Ryan Miller to clinch a shootout victory for the Penguins before 71,217 at Ralph Wilson Stadium, the most ever to watch an NHL game.
Perhaps the worst hockey moment in the series also involved Crosby, three years later at the 2011 game in Pittsburgh.
The Capitals beat the Penguins, 3-1, before 68,111, and Crosby suffered a blow to his head on a hit by the Caps' Dave Steckel, the first of two consecutive games in which he was struck in the head. He would miss the rest of last season, and he continues to be plagued by post-concussion symptoms.
In 2009, the Red Wings fell behind the Blackhawks, 3-1, at Wrigley Field then scored five goals in a row and won, 6-4.
The Bruins became the only home team to win the Classic to date in 2010, beating the Flyers, 2-1, in overtime on Marco Sturm's goal 1:57 into the extra period.
Mark Recchi had tied it for Boston with 2:18 left in regulation time.
Not surprisingly, past Classics have presented unusual challenges for players, from rough ice to accumulating snow to puddles to sun glare.
Extreme cold has not yet been an issue the way it was for the first regular-season NHL game outdoors, the 2003 Heritage Classic in Edmonton, in which the Canadiens beat the Oilers in temperatures that fell below zero.
The Heritage Classic returned this past February in Calgary, with the Flames beating the Canadiens, 4-0. By the end of the game the wind chill factor was minus-6 degrees.
