Rangers Beat Flyers in Winter Classic
Written by Bob Whalon, Monday January 02 2012
The marquee event of the NHL season was played today in Philadelphia, when the New York Rangers beat the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 in the Winter Classic.
The biggest ticket in hockey over the last five years has been the Winter Classic. The outdoor hockey game outdraws even the NHL Finals in interest and ratings. This year's game was played in the home of the Philadelphia Phillies; Citizens Bank Park. Normally decked out in red, CBP was transformed into a black and orange testament to ice hockey the way it used to be played.
After a scoreless first period, Flyers' rookie Brayden Schenn netted the first goal of his career at 12:26 of the second period to give the Flyers a 1-0 lead. Less than two minutes later, Max Talbot fed the puck in front to Claude Giroux, who lifted a backhander over Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist and under the crossbar for a 2-0 lead.
The Rangers scored midway through the second period on a goal by Michael Rupp. Then Rupp beat Flyers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky from a bad angle.
Bobrovsky was given the start over Ilya Bryzgalov who was signed in the offseason to a nine-year, $51 million contract to upgrade the Flyers goaltending situation. Unfortunately for the Flyers, Bryzgalov has struggled in his first season in Philadelphia. His 3.01 goals-against average and .890 save percentage are both career worsts.
With the score tied 2-2 in the third period the Rangers turned to the man who they signed to a huge nine-year contract lat summer, Brad Richards. Richards scored at 5:21 of the third period to give the Rangers the come-from-behind win in front of 46,967 fans.
The game was sealed when Lundqvist stoned Daniel Briere on a penalty shot with 19.6 seconds left in the game.
This was the Rangers third win against the Flyers this season and gave them a four-point lead over Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference. It also marked the fourth time in five Winter Classic games that the home team has lost.
Even in defeat the home crowd seemed to enjoy the spectacle that is the Winter Classic. There is only one NHL hockey game played outdoors each year and this year it was in Philadelphia, a true hockey town.
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