NHL Winter Classic: 5 Reasons You'll Want to Watch

With the NHL season under way, it's time to look ahead to the next installment of the Winter Classic.

The Philadelphia Flyers will host the New York Rangers in the 2012 outdoor extravaganza. The Winter Classic is quickly turning into one of the year's most exciting sporting events.

After your New Year's festivities are wrapped up, settle in and watch the Flyers take on the Rangers at Citizens Bank Park.

1. Return of HBO's 24/7

HBO's 24/7 is back with the behind-the-scenes look leading up to the 2012 Winter Classic.

The series will run one episode per week from the beginning of December up until the Jan. 2 game.

HBO's coverage of the Penguins and Capitals last year won an Emmy award for "Outstanding Edited Sports Special."

Whether you are a fan of the Flyers, Rangers, or neither, this is must-watch television. 

2. The Novelty

There is something special about hockey being played outdoors.

Fans are drawn to it. Every host venue has been packed to capacity and television ratings are through the roof.

Players who have had the privilege of playing in the Winter Classic rave about the experience.

The open air takes these professionals back to their childhood—long days spent skating on a local pond, refusing to leave their pick-up games.

It is intriguing to watch an indoor sport be played in varying weather conditions. The inaugural game was played through snow and last year's contest was delayed due to rain.

This is game also provides teams a chance to pay homage to their organizational roots with throwback jerseys.

It is a regular season game in which each team is competing for points, but the Winter Classic means so much more to the sport of hockey.

3. Intense Rivalry

The 2012 Winter Classic showcases an intense rivalry.

The cities of Philadelphia and New York are separated by a mere 90 miles and both are home to, shall we say, passionate fan bases.

The New York Rangers are members of the original six and have been division rivals with the Flyers since 1974.

The teams don't get along and the fans loath each other.

This matchup should bring everything that is great about hockey to the forefront. There will be skilled offensive attack mixed with a little bit of nastiness.

4. Star-Studded Alumni Game

Eric Lindros is making his return to Philadelphia.

He will be donning the orange and black for the first time since former New Jersey Devils defenseman Scott Stevens knocked him out of the 2000 Eastern Conference finals.

After accepting Paul Holmgren's invitation, Lindros immediately set out to reunite the "Legion of Doom." Lindros, John LeClair and Mikael Renberg terrorized the NHL for three seasons.

Flyers fans will also be treated to a reunion of the LCB line of the Broad Street Bullies. Reggie Leach, Bobby Clarke and Bill Barber will lace up the skates for the Flyers' alumni team.

There will be an incredible amount of history and talent on the ice for the New Year's eve exhibition.

Rangers Alumni

The New York Rangers are expected to field an all-star cast of their own.

While there is no announced—or confirmed—Ranger alumni roster, there are several big names you can expect to see hit the ice.

Hall of Famers Mark Messier and Brian Leetch could potentially suit up in front of Team USA stalwart Mike Richter.

Messier is one of hockey's greatest leaders, Leetch is among the all-time greatest defenseman and Richter is one of the greatest American-born Goalies.

Not too shabby.

With names like Lindros and Messier, the alumni game promises to be an entertaining precursor to the main event.

5. Brief Yet Rich History

The Winter Classic has lived up to its name. In only four games this series has provided some remarkable moments.

Whether it's an overtime thriller, a historical matchup, or a clash of superstars, the Winter Classic never disappoints.

Here's a look back at the great games in the series' brief history.

2008: Penguins vs Sabres

The first Winter Classic was played on Jan. 1, 2008 in Ralph Wilson Stadium. The Buffalo Sabres hosted the Pittsburgh Penguins in front of an NHL record 71,000 fans.

The experiment was an instant success.

Snow fell as the teams played to a 1-1 tie at the end of regulation. Then, after a scoreless overtime period, the game was heading to a shootout.

The game ended with Sidney Crosby beating goalie Ryan Miller. Hockey's biggest star delivered a win on the sport's newest stage.

2009: Redwings vs Blackhawks

Wrigley Field is baseball's second oldest stadium, so it's only fitting that it would play host to two of hockey's original teams.

In 2009 the Chicago Blackhawks squared off with the Detroit Red Wings in the second Winter Classic.

The hometown Blackhawks jumped on the Wings 3-1 in the first period.

With three goals in the second and two more in the third, the Red Wings rallied to win the game 6-4.

After a low-scoring affair the previous year, fans were treated to an offensive explosion in Chicago.

The biggest success of the game was the outstanding television rating that it drew. An estimated 4.4 million viewers tuned in, making it the most watched NHL game since 1975.

The Winter Classic had gone from an experiment to a fixture.

2010: Flyers vs Bruins

The 2010 game was played between the Philadelphia Flyers and Boston Bruins at Fenway Park in Boston.

This contest pitted historic franchises as the 2009 game did, but the game played out more like the 2008 version.

The Flyers and Bruins battled through a tight game and entered overtime knotted at one goal apiece.

In overtime Bruin, Marco Sturm, beat Flyers goalie Michael Leighton and sent the home crowd into a frenzy.

2011: Capitals vs Penguins

The 2011 Winter Classic was the most anticipated game yet.

The league's two biggest superstars, Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin, were going head-to-head in another round of their budding rivalry. 

Add in a month of pregame coverage through HBO's 24/7 series and fans were geared-up for the puck to drop.

The Washington Capitals won the game 3-1 thanks to Eric Fehr's two-goal performance. 

The big story of the day, however, was an injury to Crosby. Little did we know that Dave Steckel's hit would derail Crosby's season.

The Penguin captain was diagnosed with a concussion and would then be sidelined indefinitely after suffering a second one less than a week later.

The 2011 Winter Classic altered the course of the season and the impact is still being felt as Crosby has yet to return to the Penguins' lineup.

2012: Rangers vs Flyers

Who knows what drama and excitement the 2012 game will bring?

The one thing that's certain—you won't want to miss it.