NHL Winter Classic 2012: Power Ranking the 12 Best Winter Classic Goals

The 2012 NHL Winter Classic between the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers is less than a week away.

The excitement regarding the annual outdoor game is building for the big event, which has always come through to produce an entertaining hockey game.

Despite there being just four Winter Classics to choose from, many great and memorable hockey goals have been put in the net so far.

The following goals have been isolated for your convenience. Original video sources: (2008) (2009-2011).

12. Danny Syvret (2010)

The first goal scored at Fenway Park in 2010 was also the first of Danny Syvret's career.

Syvret can thank Scott Hartnell for distracting Tim Thomas.

Syvret scored two more NHL goals since this game. He plays for the AHL's Peoria Rivermen.

11. Eric Fehr (2011)

Fehr was sent through the Penguins defense by Jason Chimera and sniped the puck past Marc-Andre Fleury.

10. Ben Eager (2009)

Watch Chicago's Ben Eager completely outwork Andreas Lilja for the puck behind the net and slip one in the goal.

Excellent effort from Eager.

9. Ales Kotalik (2008)

The inaugural Winter Classic between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres went to a shootout.

Excitement is palpable as Ales Kotalik leads off a dramatic ending.

8. Martin Havlat (2009)

The actual shot from Martin Havlat is not unbelievable by any means, but check out the setup by Kris Versteeg.

A no-look backhand pass from the boards goes right to Havlat's tape.

7. Evgeni Malkin (2011)

Evgeni Malkin is one of the last hockey players any goalie wants to face on a breakaway. Geno snipes this one to give Pittsburgh the first goal of the 2011 Winter Classic.

6. Duncan Keith (2009)

The goal wouldn't affect the outcome of the game, but Duncan Keith's blast here was great.

He was able to get this one in off the crossbar with a shot from the point.

5. Mark Recchi (2010)

Unlike Keith's impressive blast, Mark Recchi's tip-in was quite meaningful.

This tied the game with less than three minutes left and forced overtime.

4. Marco Sturm (2010)

Marco Sturm finished off the Flyers with a tip-in past Michael Leighton for the Winter Classic's only overtime goal to date.

3. Kris Letang (2008)

Back in Buffalo, Kris Letang's shootout attempt easily got goalie Ryan Miller to drop, making the future Vezina winner look helpless.

2. Pavel Datsyuk (2009)

Pavel Datsyuk can turn a game around.

All he does here is blow by two Chicago defensmen and deke Cristobal Huet out of his pants.

The Red Wings went up 4-3 and stayed ahead for the rest of the game.

1. Sidney Crosby (2008)

One of the game's best scorers staring down one of the game's best goalies with the game on the line.

The entire annual event rested on the shoulders of two players.

As snow poured down on Ralph Wilson Stadium, Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby came through.

The Penguins would win the shootout and the inaugural Winter Classic.

In a strange coincidence, Crosby put it through Miller's five hole again two years later in overtime of the 2010 Olympics gold medal game.

B/R Featured Columnist Jason Sapunka is available on Twitter.

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