NHL Winter Classic 2012: Why It Was a Hit with the Casual Fans

The Winter Classic has always been a very exciting game for hockey fans of all kinds. The annual outdoor game has become a sort of New Year’s tradition. Its television ratings have competed with those of Stanley Cup playoff games.

But how does the Winter Classic connect with the casual NHL fan? And what is it about this year’s New York Rangers vs. Philadelphia Flyers matchup that drew casual hockey fans?

For one, the Winter Classic has become quite the spectacle. Between the annual 24/7 HBO Sports special, the alumni game and the actual Winter Classic game itself, there is a lot there to attract all kinds of hockey fans.

The Winter Classic game itself, in my opinion, had everything it takes to connect with even the most casual of NHL fans. Whether or not one is a fan of the Rangers or the Flyers, the game itself was very exciting. It was rather to appreciate the game for what it was—an exciting contest between two longtime rivals.

The first period played out just as many expected. The Flyers tested the Rangers’ strong defenses, outshooting them 12-9. Despite the fact that the period went scoreless, there were a handful of thrilling scoring chances like Claude Giroux’s and Jaromir Jagr’s breakaways. Even more thrilling was the way Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist stopped those shots.

Those casual fans who weren’t too fascinated by the back-and-forth scoreless first period found solace in the scoring that was prevalent in the second period.

Brayden Schenn’s first career goal and Giroux’s goal two minutes later added a whole new dynamic of excitement to the game by putting the Flyers up 2-0. For those fans who don’t often watch the Flyers play, watching Giroux score is certainly a treat—especially in this game, where the casual fan got to see Giroux find the back of the net with a very impressive backhand shot.

A third goal came in the second period as Rangers winger Mike Rupp scored to make it 2-1. He then went on to score the Rangers’ second straight goal, tying the game in the process. Rangers veteran Brad Richards then scored the team’s third unanswered goal to make it 3-2.

Because of this, the casual fan got to watch the Flyers seemingly run away with the game, only to later see the Rangers mount a remarkable comeback. As if that wasn’t exciting enough for someone who doesn’t watch hockey often, the third period really heated up in the last few minutes.

As the game came down to the final minutes, it came time for the Flyers to pull their goalie in return for an extra skater. With the possibility of the Flyers tying the game up and the Rangers getting the chance to put the Flyers away with an empty net goal, it was quite an exciting play.

Not too long after they pulled their goalie, the referee called a controversial dual penalty that made the remainder of the game 4-on-4. This seemed to play in favor to the home team Flyers.

However, one of the most exciting and nerve wrecking calls came with a mere 20 seconds left when Danny Briere was awarded a penalty shot. When it came down to it, Lundqvist was able to stop Briere from knotting the game up.

This game really connected with the casual hockey fans because it had everything one could want in a hockey game: a dramatic rivalry, a fancy goal from the league’s scoring leader, a comeback from a 2-0 deficit, some controversial calls and a nail-biting conclusion to the game. In addition, there’s a lot about the Winter Classic tradition itself that appeals to casual fans. The hype and the prestige, as well as all the festivities of the annual outdoor game, make it one of the most anticipated games of the year.

This year’s Flyers vs. Rangers hockey game added to the list of exciting Winter Classic games that have been a hit among casual fans.