NHL Record 71,217 fans watch hockey game

[NYBuckeye96]

Did anyone watch this game on NBC? It was awesome seeing them play with the snow flying! I wish they could play outside more often!! How about watching a Blue Jackets game at Ohio Stadium? How awesome would that be?!?!?!


http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/02/sports/hockey/02hockey.html?th&emc=th

January 2, 2008
WINTER CLASSIC | PENGUINS 2, SABRES 1
Winter Wonderland for Crosby and N.H.L.

By MATT HIGGINS
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — With more than 71,000 fans filling a football stadium that at times resembled a snow globe, the N.H.L. had a storybook setting for its outdoor game Tuesday between the Buffalo Sabres and the Pittsburgh Penguins. And with the winning goal coming off the stick of the Penguins star Sidney Crosby in a shootout, the league could not have scripted a more satisfying ending.

With snow flying in his face, Crosby bore down on Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller. Crosby faked before putting a shot between Miller’s pads in the third round of the shootout to clinch a 2-1 victory in the Winter Classic.

Played on a specially constructed outdoor rink, and broadcast on NBC, the event was a showcase for the N.H.L. and offered hockey a rare opportunity to reach a large audience in the United States.

Inside Ralph Wilson Stadium, an N.H.L.-record crowd of 71,217 stood for much of the game, dancing and singing.

“When you see 70,000 people jammed into a stadium to watch hockey, it’s a good sign,” said Crosby, a center who often played outdoors while growing up in Cole Harbor, Nova Scotia. “The atmosphere and environment, I don’t think you can beat that.”

The outdoor game was billed as a return to the roots of hockey, a glorification of a game played on frozen ponds and in backyard rinks. In a nod to nostalgia, each team wore throwback uniforms. The Sabres wore the white, blue and gold jerseys last used regularly during the 1995-96 season. The Penguins wore light blue and black uniforms dating to their teams of the 1970s. Many players wore hats and other headgear to guard against the cold, including Miller, who wore a winter hat atop his mask.

Both the Penguins and the Sabres have skilled players capable of playing pond hockey’s freewheeling style. When Pittsburgh scored on the first shift of the game, it looked as if the Winter Classic might turn into a high-scoring game. But falling snow slowed the ice surface and made it difficult for players to handle the puck.

“The only tough part was snow buildup on the ice,” Sabres wing Jason Pominville said. “At times there was a lot of snow, and it made it hard for guys to stickhandle and shoot.”

With a steady temperature of 33 degrees, snowfall fluctuated throughout the game from light to moderate. A crew with shovels and squeegees cleared snow from the ice and repaired divots during frequent stoppages in play. Two Zambonis smoothed and cut the ice between periods.

“After the first period, I think everyone got used to it; it was O.K.,” Sabres defenseman Jaroslav Spacek said. “Those little holes were kind of tough. You had to think about it — don’t fall. You don’t want to look stupid, especially in front of that crowd.”

Crosby helped stake the Penguins to an early 1-0 lead. Driving hard to the net, he drew two Buffalo defenders and shoveled the puck at Miller, who could not handle the rebound.

Wing Colby Armstrong, trailing the play, popped the loose puck over Miller 21 seconds into the game.

Pittsburgh applied the early pressure, and the Sabres struggled to mount much offense while taking three penalties in the first period.

But the Sabres came out energized for the second, scoring 1 minute 25 seconds into the period to tie the score at 1-1. They outshot Pittsburgh in the period, 14-2.

Cruising in Pittsburgh’s zone, center Tim Connolly pulled up near the top of left circle and sent a pass to defenseman Brian Campbell. Campbell had time to rip a wrist shot over Ty Conklin’s left shoulder.

The Sabres continued to pour on shots throughout the third period and overtime but could not solve Conklin, who made 36 saves.

Conklin, who served as Miller’s backup in Buffalo last season and began this season in the minors for Pittsburgh, did not allow another goal until the shootout. He was beaten on the first shot by Ales Kotalik, but he stopped the next two Buffalo shooters, allowing Crosby a chance to score the winner.

Conklin was also the starting goalie for the Edmonton Oilers in the N.H.L.’s last outdoor game. In November 2003, the league staged the Heritage Classic in Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Oilers, 4-3, before a crowd of 57,167. It was minus-2 degrees.

Since being called up to Pittsburgh in early December, when the starter Marc-André Fleury sprained an ankle, Conklin has gone 5-0. That includes a 2-0 win over the Sabres on Saturday.

Despite the loss, the long waits while the ice was repaired, and the cold weather, even the Sabres seemed thrilled to be a part of what many consider a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play an N.H.L. regular-season game outdoors before such a large audience.

“It was great,” Pominville said. “I would do it again anytime.”

[NYBuckeye96]

Despite viewing competition from the Michigan-Florida Bowl game, the ratings for the NHL game exceeded all expectations.

NBC exceeded audience expectations for its coverage of the Buffalo outdoor game on New Year's Day by earning a 2.4 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.

[kevbk6222]

that is how all hockey should be played

[rockhillbasketball]

that is how all hockey should be played

i agree.

[kevbk6222]

they said they sould do it every sunday on PTI

[tubby]

From what I watched I enjoyed

[noreply66]

This is the way it should be played--if football can be played outside as often as they do surely hockey can too.

[CHIEFSOCCER08]

That play by Crosby was sweet, when he flicked the puck over the defender. It is amazing what he is doing at such a young age.

[kcarth305]

I'm not a big hockey fan, but it's good to see this many people supporting the NHL. I will say though, watching Hockey on TV is a lot more interesting and entertaining than watching Golf on TV is.