NHL: 20 Biggest Games Leading Up to the Winter Classic
Outside of the Stanley Cup Finals, there is no game in the NHL hyped more every season than the Winter Classic. But that doesn't mean the rest of the regular season NHL games are a snooze-fest in comparison.
For the past four years, the NHL has carefully hand-picked teams that best represent the NHL, and all of its ferocity, for the Winter Classic. However, let it be known that Jan. 1 shouldn't be the only day hockey fans circle on their calendars.
Up until that day, the NHL schedule is riddled with rivalry games pitting teams that drop the gloves more than once, emotional games where players are reintroduced to their old teams and in which superstars of two teams collide in epic proportions.
NHL fans have plenty of fantastic hockey games to keep them busy until the much-anticipated Winter Classic rolls around.
In chronological order, here are the 20 biggest games leading up to the Winter Classic:
Laura Falcon is a Featured Columnist for the Pittsburgh Penguins and a college writing intern for Bleacher Report. Follow her on Twitter or email her at lfalcon@mail.umw.edu with any comments.
Tampa Bay Lightning at Washington Capitals
1 of 20
November 11, 2010
Steven Stamkos and Alex Ovechkin, the two latest Rocket Richard winners, meet for the first time this season.
The Southeast Division was often considered a joke but, with the vast improvements happening from within, the Caps will be no longer smoothly sail to division titles anymore. They're going to have to work much harder for them.
The two deadliest snipers in the NHL are also going against some solid goaltending on either side.
Need I say more?
Montreal Canadiens at Boston Bruins
2 of 20
November 11, 2010
One of the greatest rivalries in the NHL, any meeting between the Habs and Bruins is heated and hated.
And that's just between the fans.
San Jose Sharks at Colorado Avalanche
3 of 20
November 17, 2010
A classic matchup of a rebuilding, young team against an established team of seasoned players. They met in the first round of the playoffs last season, and the Avalanche were sent home after six games.
This season, the Avs dropped their first game against the Sharks, which should make for an interesting second game in their barn.
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Toronto Maple Leafs at Montreal Canadiens
4 of 20
November 20, 2010
Everyone hates the Leafs except their fans.
Everyone hates the Habs except their fans.
Put the two teams together at the Bell Centre, a favorite arena for many players, where the boos will rain down as fierce as a Canadian's love for hockey. That will create the ultimate hockey atmosphere. You can't expect the players to simply ignore the passion coming from their fans, so these games are just as emotional for them as they are for the fans.
Chicago Blackhawks at Vancouver Canucks
5 of 20
November 20, 2010
Patrick Kane and Roberto Luongo have a knack for running into each other during the big games.
They have faced each other in both the 2009 and 2010 playoffs, with the Blackhawks on the winning end of both series. They also played their cards on international ice, representing the United States and Canada in the Olympics. Luongo had the last laugh in that one.
Understandably, a rivalry between the two has blossomed.
The Hawks venture to Vancouver for their second meet up of the season after the Hawks took the first. Will the Canucks respond with help from their home crowd, or will Kane seek revenge after losing the gold medal game on that very ice?
Pittsburgh Penguins at Buffalo Sabres
6 of 20
November 24, 2010
Speaking of the Olympics, another interesting matchup for years to come is Sidney Crosby versus Ryan Miller.
Crosby had Miller's number all of last season, including the gold medal, game-winning overtime goal in the Olympics. Miller probably still has nightmares about the flukey goal.
The Sabres and Pens are also forever tied as the first-ever Winter Classic matchup.
Chicago Blackhawks at San Jose Sharks
7 of 20
November 24, 2010
A 2010 Western Conference Finals matchup.
The Hawks haven't met the Sharks since they sent them home packing in last season's playoffs.
Every season, the Sharks remain a favorite to win the Cup, but every season they fall short. The question: "How much faith are people going to put in the Sharks' clear talent before giving up on their chances of winning the Cup?," is beginning to get old fast.
Cap issues considerably weakened the Hawks during free agency, but a win in the Shark's department could be a psychological boost for the team.
Toronto Maple Leafs at Ottawa Senators
8 of 20
November 27, 2010
Another two teams that hate each other.
See the pattern with the Canadian teams?
The Leafs took some steps forward in overall team improvement while many were starting to believe the Senators took a few steps back. With the Sens now ahead in the points department, it should create an interesting dynamic between the Battle of Ontario.
Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Rangers
9 of 20
November 29, 2010
The Atlantic Division is one of the most heated divisions in the NHL not only because of the talent, but because of the hatred that ignites in every matchup.
Anytime the Pens visit the Rangers at Madison Square Garden, it becomes a hate-fest with plenty of love for Crosby. You can't forget Sean Avery, who is always up to something.
The Pens and Rangers are products of division nastiness, which always makes their games a fun experience.
Los Angeles Kings at Anaheim Ducks
10 of 20
November 29, 2010
When Cam Fowler was drafted by the Anaheim Ducks almost six months ago, the Staples Center, home of the Los Angeles Kings, let the boos rip.
Commissioner Gary Bettman greeted him on stage and, before welcoming him to the NHL, said: "You now know you're a part of a big rivalry."
Is this ever true.
With three teams in California, one has to stake claim as the best of the state.
St. Louis Blues at Chicago Blackhawks
11 of 20
November 30, 2010
This pick is driven more from the historical rivalry that stands between the two, but this should make for an interesting, close-checking, power game nonetheless.
No one anticipated the Blues would be as good as they are, but with Halak playing Vezina-worthy hockey in net, the confidence and success has followed through the lines.
Against the defending Stanley Cup champs, this could be their chance to really make a statement.
Boston Bruins at Philadelphia Flyers
12 of 20
December 1, 2010
Everyone and their grandmother knows that the Flyers don't like anyone. It isn't in their nature.
But this is a rivalry that goes deep into the past, when both teams were duking it out with Bobby Orr and Bobby Clarke on their respective teams.
The Flyers won their first Cup in 1974 against the Bruins. The NHL decided the rivalry was hot enough to send the third Winter Classic to Boston, where the Bruins took the game in overtime. Then the two teams clashed in the playoffs, when the Flyers overcame a 0-3 deficit to send the Bruins home with their tails between their legs.
This is always a high energy, fast-skating game with two passionate fan bases behind it.
Boston Bruins at Toronto Maple Leafs
13 of 20
December 4, 2010
Last season the Bruins sent top winger Phil Kessel to Toronto for a first-round draft pick and a second-round draft pick in 2010, plus a first-round pick in the 2011 draft. The trade gave the Bruins the chance to draft the highly-touted Tyler Seguin second overall.
In their first meeting of this season, a 2-0 Bruins win, the Boston crowd began a "Thank you, Kessel" chant after Seguin scored the second goal of the game.
So when Boston travels to Toronto, will the Bruins faithful be saying the same thing from their TVs at home?
San Jose Sharks at Detroit Red Wings
14 of 20
December 6, 2010
The dynamics of the Sharks and the Wings are very similar.
These are two teams with veteran-status players and few young players because both teams do well in the season and aren't drafting high. Because of that, there isn't much pizazz, unlike what is flaunted in the Eastern Conference with its young, high draft pick talent.
Whenever they meet, it's a battle of cool skill versus cool skill for the most part. Both teams are sound on all fronts so watching them always becomes an interesting duel of who will mess up first.
Tampa Bay Lightning at Vancouver Canucks
15 of 20
December 11, 2010
The Canucks and Lightning have established themselves as strong teams, but what will make this matchup fun is the Stamkos/Sedin twins battle.
Henrik and Daniel Sedin are literally a match made in heaven. Henrik led all NHLers in scoring to win the Art Ross Trophy.
Thus far, Stamkos leads the NHL in both the scoring and points departments.
This could potentially be a high-scoring game if the goalies aren't on their game.
Pittsburgh Penguins at Philadelphia Flyers
16 of 20
December 14, 2010
The Battle of Pennsylvania makes its fourth stop in Philadelphia, Sidney Crosby's favorite arena.
This rivalry is among the most entertaining to watch because of the young talent matched with the burning hatred that gushes from the fans down to the players. Expect fights, huge hits and a game dominated by the forwards.
Detroit Red Wings at Chicago Blackhawks
17 of 20
December 17, 2010
Another old rivalry between two of the original-six teams.
They faced each other in the second Winter Classic, they're in the same division and they both boast incredible talent that has seen its fair share of success. Not to mention both teams have recently won the Stanley Cup.
What's not to love?
Pittsburgh Penguins at Washington Capitals
18 of 20
December 23, 2010
In this game, we get a taste of what is to come in the Winter Classic.
The Pens will visit the Caps just a week before facing them at Heinz Field. What happens in this game could very much affect how the Winter Classic will go.
The loser of the game could be motivated to play above-and-beyond what's expected on Jan. 1. Or the winner might gain a psychological advantage going into the next game.
Whatever happens, this game will be a huge factor.
Montreal Canadiens at Washington Capitals
19 of 20
December 28, 2010
The offseason was particularly difficult for the Caps after they lost in seven games to the Canadiens despite gaining a 3-1 lead in the series. Stunned couldn't begin to describe the reaction of the entire fan base and franchise.
Now the Caps can seek their revenge in their first meeting of the season, especially without Jaroslav Halak in net.
This game is also the last the Caps will play before the Winter Classic.
Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Islanders
20 of 20
December 29, 2010
For the Pens, this is their last game before facing the Caps in the Winter Classic.
It is an important time to make a statement and definitely not a game to overlook. The Crosby versus Tavares matchup is certainly becoming a hot one within the Atlantic Division.
The Islanders sometimes seem like a pushover team, but they've been giving the Pens problems lately, something they will need to rectify before entering the new year.
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