http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/
Friday, December 31, 2010
ORCHARD PARK, NY - JANUARY 01: Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins gets the puck past goaltender Ryan Miller #35 of the Buffalo Sabres to win the NHL Winter Classic 2-1 in a shoot out at the Ralph Wilson Stadium on January 1, 2008 in Orchard Park, New York. The Penguins won the game 2-1 in a shoot out. (Dave Sandford/Getty Images)
The inaugural Winter Classic was Sidney Crosby's unofficial introduction to American sports fans who largely ignore hockey but were captivated by the idea of an outdoor game.
With millions of Americans watching as snowflakes fell and the sky darkened around Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo, Crosby scored one of his most famous goals and helped the Winter Classic become a blooming spectacle.
Crosby's flair for the dramatic had never been more evident.
"It was just so perfect," said Penguins defenseman Zbynek Michalek, who watched the game in Phoenix. "And when you saw it was him standing there with a chance to win the game, you just knew he would score. Of course he would score. It's Crosby."
The hype leading up to that Winter Classic trumpeted Crosby, then 20, as the game's best player.
Three years later, things haven't changed.
Crosby seems delighted to play in this year's Winter Classic and acknowledged that part of the charm in Buffalo revolved around its place as a singular event.
"I didn't expect it to be a yearly thing then," Crosby said. "It was definitely a special moment, especially considering the fact that we didn't know if there'd ever be another one."
The NHL would be crazy to stop showcasing the annual outdoor game. From Buffalo to Chicago to Boston, the game has grown in popularity each year. And yet, the signature moment in this short series remains Crosby staring down Miller that afternoon in Buffalo.
Crosby, doing his best Mario Lemieux impersonation, set up a goal only seconds into the contest. He also dazzled with his stickhandling, perhaps putting on a show more than usual knowing full well untapped fans were watching.
Always the humble superstar, Crosby doesn't remember it that way.
"I don't think of it like that," he said. "(But) I do think that game probably brought a lot of interest."
Although the game was an unprecedented success, there were issues that created problems. The steady snow forced numerous stoppages as crews frantically fixed the ice.
According to Michalek, the conditions only add to the Crosby legend.
"I remember it was snowing so much that people could barely see the puck and it was hard for anyone to score," he said. "Of course, he's the one who would come through in that situation and score the goal. It wasn't a surprise."
There are weather issues hovering over this season's game, but the NHL is hopeful that the contest will take place without any problems. After all, with Crosby playing and a huge number of North American sports fans expected to tune in, something special could happen.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman compares Crosby's goal in Buffalo to one of the great moments in Pittsburgh sports history.
"If you are a Penguins fan," Bettman said, "you probably remember Sid's goal the way you do the Immaculate Reception."
The NHL can only hope that Saturday at Heinz Field generates such a compelling memory. Regardless of what happens, the image of a joy-jumping Crosby that day in Buffalo will endure.
"It's a moment in time," Bettman said.
No comments:
Post a Comment