Last Thursday's Blackhawks-Capitals Bridgestone Winter Classic "will certainly be remembered as one of the outdoor games that stand the test of time," according to Jared Clinton of THE HOCKEY NEWS. The pageantry "was given a healthy bump thanks to the team entrances, and the game itself was one of the better outdoor contests the league has seen." The game began "with a tepid pace, as both teams seemed to test the ice, test the glare, and feel each other out." But it culminated with Capitals RW Troy Brouwer scoring the game-winning goal "with 12.9 seconds left on the clock" (THEHOCKEYNEWS.com, 1/1). The CP's Stephen Whyno wrote the NHL "almost could not have scripted the 2015 Winter Classic any better." From the time the teams "took the ice at Nationals Park, through a fly-over by F-16 fighter jets," a goal by Capitals LW Alex Ovechkin and "the drama of a late winner by Troy Brouwer, Thursday’s game was a showcase of top-of-the-line hockey" (CP, 1/1). CSNWASHINGTON.com's Chuck Gormley wrote the '15 Winter Classic "was a classic in many ways." There was "a sea of red along Half Street, where fans flooded the Spectator Plaza" before the game. There were "flyovers and fireworks and fans singing." There was "even a surprise rain shower of seat cushions" following Brouwer’s game-winning goal and Blackhawks C Jonathan Toews "stewing in the penalty box" (CSNWASHINGTON.com, 1/1). In DC, Alex Prewitt wrote the Capitals "will remember the stark contrast between Thursday’s cloudless day and their slushy, rainy win" against the Penguins at the '11 Winter Classic at Heinz Field. They will also "remember the F-16 jets roaring overhead while they stood atop a scaled-down replica Reflecting Pool and listened to the national anthem" (WASHINGTON POST, 1/2). Capitals C Brooks Laich: "The game didn't feel like a regular-season game. It felt a lot more special, a lot more important than your standard regular-season game" (USA TODAY, 1/2).
STILL BUZZING: ESPN.com's Scott Burnside wrote it is "hard to imagine that a year from now, when it's expected that the NHL will return to Boston for a second Winter Classic," anyone will remember the concerns of a lack of buzz surrounding the Winter Classic, because the DC event "has made the point moot." If Thursday's event "taught us anything, it's that it's foolish to try to compare these events as though lining them in such a fashion can really serve as an evaluation regarding their impact on a community or franchise." The "strong militaristic theme of this game -- the presence of the different branches of the service, the flyover by the fighter jets, and even Lee Greenwood singing 'God Bless The USA' -- seemed absolutely apropos for this city" (ESPN.com, 1/1). CSN Bay Area’s Kevin Kurz said, “I hear all this talk about the Winter Classic getting stale; I don't buy it. I still think it's great and I thought (Thursday's) event in Washington was outstanding. And it was a very good hockey game, too" ("Yahoo Sports Talk Live," CSN Bay Area, 1/2). THE HOCKEY NEWS' Clinton wrote the team entrances "were actually worth watching" for "the first time in Winter Classic history." The teams "came down the 'reflecting pool' to make their entrances, the first time the NHL had employed anything of the sort" for the annual event. It "wasn’t a huge change, nor was it difficult to achieve, but it was a really nice touch to help show how extraordinary and unique the Winter Classic can be" (THEHOCKEYNEWS.com, 1/1).
GLARE CARE: ESPN.com's Scott Powers noted the teams "took the ice for warm-ups around 12:45 p.m. ET" with the sun "shining on the outdoor ice." The two captains -- Toews and Ovechkin -- "talked to their respective goaltenders and then met briefly to confirm that starting on time was doable" despite the glare. They "believed the conditions were safe enough and began the game at 1:29 p.m. ET." League and NHLPA officials "were also involved in the decision not to delay the game's start." Bettman said, "We decided that we would have the players come out and warm up and see how comfortable they were with the sun conditions. The ice was fine; that was never an issue. The report we got back from Corey Crawford, the goaltender who was in the sun for Chicago, that he was comfortable, and the two captains told us that they were comfortable and we decided to switch ends." But Blackhawks D Niklas Hjalmarsson "thought the conditions were dangerous, and said both teams were lucky not to have anyone injured during the first period." Hjalmarsson: "It was pretty tough to be honest with you. It was not the best for us to play in that kind of weather. It was tough to see the puck. I think it was kind of dangerous. No one got hurt at least. The second and third were much better. It was perfect weather, I think" (
ESPN.com, 1/1). Alzner, who wore sunglasses during the game, said that he had "heard from teammates that the eye black and shaded visors were ineffective." The WASHINGTON TIMES' Tom Schad noted the rink "was shaded after the first intermission, eliminating the issue for the remainder of the game." Capitals RW Eric Fehr said, "First period, it was a little bit difficult to see, especially going down the one end. But it was even for both teams" (
WASHINGTON TIMES, 1/2).
BOOST FOR THE CAPITALS: NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said of the atmosphere at Nationals Park, "What you saw from 43,000 people was a level of enthusiasm for hockey, for the Capitals, that I'm not sure many people imagined could ever have been accomplished in Washington. And it's a testament to [Captials Owner] Ted Leonsis and his passion for the game, his passion for the Capitals and his passion for this community" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 1/2). CSN Bay Area's Kurz said, "From a Washington standpoint, the excitement of that game can kind of revitalize the fanbase a little bit. If I'm in the Sharks' front office, I would kind of hope that that game against the Kings outdoors at Levi's Stadium will do the same thing in terms of their fanbase” (“Yahoo Sports Talk Live, CSN Bay Area, 1/2).
WHAT'S NEXT FOR DC? CSNWASHINGTON.com's Mark Zuckerman wrote there "was a palpable sense from the big wigs in attendance that Thursday's event would be just the first of several major sporting events to take place" in DC in coming years. The Winter Classic "felt like a precursor" to the MLB All-Star Game, "given the spectacle surrounding the Winter Classic, the fan festival outside, the pregame concert inside, the only-game-in-town nature of this annual event." Nationals Principal Owner Mark Lerner said of hosting an MLB All-Star Game, "We'll get ours soon enough." Zuckerman: "Perhaps the rest of the sporting nation took note that Washington can be a great locale for big-time sporting events" (CSNWASHINGTON.com, 1/1).
