Winter Classic 2012: Flyers Will Ride Tandem of Giroux and Jagr to Big Win

The Philadelphia Flyers are heading into the 2012 NHL Winter Classic with the mentality that they can beat the New York Rangers, no matter what injuries the team is facing.

That’s because the Flyers still have the tandem of Jaromir Jagr and Claude Giroux.

With the game being held at Citizen’s Bank Park in Philadelphia, the Flyers are treating this like a home game and a must win. That’s why Jagr and Giroux will have every opportunity to make their mark on this game.

NBC Sports personality Doc Emrick told USA Today about what this game means to the players:

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"It's as close to a Game 7 of a Stanley Cup Final as you can get…These guys have been all over the world and they've played a lot of hockey in a lot of venues but this is a special one."

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There was fear that a recent concussion suffered by Giroux would keep the star forward from trying to retain his hold on the NHL points lead (43), but all systems are go and he is back at 100 percent.

Many experts are attributing his newfound success to the presence of a veteran like Jagr on his wing and that very well may be. Giroux is having a career year and Jagr looks ten years younger.

On the big stage of the Winter Classic the tandem of Giroux and Jagr will be out there to prove the doubters wrong. Giroux wants to show he can be the best in the NHL and Jagr wants to show he can still be a dominant force after all the years.

Both will capitalize on their chance on January 2nd, and the Rangers will fall at the feet of their division foes.

Check back for more on the National Hockey League as it comes, and check out Bleacher Report’s NHL Page to get your fill of all things hockey.

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