NHL Winter Classic: Penguins Vs. Capitals Alumni Game a Special Moment for Fans

According to a recent Pittsburgh Penguins announcement, alumni from the Penguins will face off against alumni from the Washington Capitals on the eve of the Winter Classic in an Alumni Game at Heinz Field, further adding to the excitement of the weekend.

Tickets will be available to 10,000 lucky fans for $25 apiece. They will also be granted access to the Pens morning skate, which will follow the game.

As of now, willing participants include Mario Lemieux, Paul Coffey, Ron Francis and Bryan Trottier and recently retired Bill Guerin for the Pens. Peter Bondra is the only official name for the Caps, however there are players like Larry Murphy who will consider dressing for both sides as they played for both teams

The idea, whoever came up with it, is nothing short of a genius not only because of the revenue the imminent sellout will bring, but the image this projects.

I can vouch for the Penguins nation and the chatter that has come from this announcement greatly overpowers that of the Winter Classic, for an obvious reason.

No. 66 will skate once more.

However, I think it's important to look beyond the idea that former greats will dress and play a relaxed game of hockey for old time's sake. Either this was on purpose or by accident, but the NHL has made an interesting statement with the addition of this game to the festivities.

Thus far, the NHL has focused its Winter Classic marketing on the Sidney Crosby vs. Alex Ovechkin matchup with the backdrop of the two teams meeting in the 2009 Stanley Cup Semifinals. Undertones include the vengeance from the Caps and the fact that these two teams simply don't like each other because of comments from players, on-ice antics, etc.

The casual sports fan would assume this is what describes the two teams and their history together, especially if they only saw promos for the 24/7 HBO series that will feature both teams.

Dead wrong.

There is so much more beneath what the NHL was showing.

This Alumni Game does a nice job addressing those holes by addressing how deep the history between the Pens and Caps goes. Certainly further than any current rivalry.

Take away the media and the only current rivalry between the Pens and the Caps is one rooted in their recent playoffs meeting, maybe adding some intensity because of Crosby and Ovechkin because of their styles of play and because they entered the NHL at the same time and have seen repeated success since then.

However, go back to the '90s and see the matchups between the two teams; that is where the rival truly began in the purest form, without the manipulative media forcing storylines down everyone's throats. See the heartbreak, hatred and pure joy that repeatedly surfaced when the two teams met, specifically in the playoffs.

This story, the real story, has seemingly been lost in the translation of Crosby vs. Ovechkin, a worthy story but one that has seen plenty of air time.

By no means will this Alumni Game become a death match between begrudged retirees who want one last shot at proving themselves. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to see some of these players boozing it up after the game on Carson Street.

This is an homage to the past, something we get only a glimpse of when we see the alternate jerseys both sides will be wearing for the game. After all, the reason the Winter Classic exists is to commemorate hockey in its purest form: on a pond with dozens of kids skating around with no purpose but to play the game they love.

No paychecks, no final contract year pressures and no concerns over possible trades.

In a similar way, the NHL is presenting to fans the purest form of the Pens/Caps rivalry, without the added touch of the media that has grown this rivalry into a monster.

The hockey world gets to see where this "rivalry" came from while seeing some of the greatest players in the NHL at the same time.

For many fans, it's a time to see some of the these greats for the first time on skates. I will hopefully be one of those fans.

Having grown up in the DC Metropolitan Area but with family rooted in Pittsburgh, I knew exactly who Lemieux and Jagr were, just like I knew Bondra and Oates. While I was lucky enough to see Bondra and Oates play from my TV, I wasn't always as lucky with Lemieux and Oates.

And I never got to see them in person.

Lemieux is clearly the biggest name to ever grace the Pens organization. Regardless of one's beliefs on Ovechkin, Bondra is another player who made a mark on the Caps.

As players who once defined the sport for their respective cities, how perfect is it that they are given the opportunity to meet when their successors will continue to pave the hockey way a day later and for the rest of their careers?

The only flaw is the 10,000-ticket limit.

Nowhere near enough to please both fanbases, especially Pittsburgh's. Hopefully the NHL will try to accommodate as many fans as they can for this special event because it does set the stage for what is to come the next day.

The NHL has been blessed with a beautiful history and it doesn't need enhancing or overexposure to tell it. Simply let the past speak for itself and the stories will come from them.

This truly is a wonderful moment for the hockey world. Let's enjoy it as best we can.

Laura Falcon is a Featured Columnist for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Follow her on Twitter or email her at [e-mail] with any comments or questions.