My review of this year's game:

BORING!!!!

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"Go out and run 'em."
- Lindy Ruff, 23 Feb. 2007

I thoroughly enjoyed this years game. Partially because I loathe Philly with a passion and wanted to see them lose. I loved the physicality shown this game not present in the last two. I don't know that I'd hold the same passion watching two WC teams as I do two EC. My bet (hope) is for NYR vs WAS next year. I do like this idea of a double header on the east & west coast.

I don't care for baseball parks, but understand (now) why they're preferred by the NHL and host city. There was extensive coverage on NHLN regarding the switch in venues and the festivities go on for weeks. Public skates, alumni games, etc. Those fans miss out on the tailgating though which is 1/2 the fun.

The ratings are in and they were down from last year but equal to the Buffalo-Pens game:

"NBC earned a 2.6 overnight Nielsen rating for the Flyers-Bruins Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic on Friday, down 10.3% from a 2.9 for the Red Wings-Blackhawks matchup last year, and even with the inaugural Penguins-Sabres Winter Classic in '08. The 2.6 overnight still marks the second-best NHL regular-season rating since '96."

Puck Daddy has a great review found here http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_d ... nhl,211696

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"...they came down into the stands and asked if I knew how to do play by play. I said...No. But. I'll take a shot at it if you want".- Rick Jeanneret

I don't know why this game just fell flat on me, but it did. And that's not great because I love hockey. I love the connection to its history that the outdoor games bring. And before this year, I've also thoroughly enjoyd all the outdoor games and felt a certain sense of wonder and magic in the moments, from Edmonton on through to Buffalo and Chicago.

But honestly, to use Zilla's soccer analogy, I actually was more interested in a Manchester United match I watched the other day than I was the Boston outdoor game. And I never watch soccer. Maybe it was because I dislike both teams and had no rooting interest, but man, I just felt it was a total yawner.

Fuck Man U.
I felt the same way too, it was a boring game. And I didn't really give a hoot in hell about either team since I dislike both of them. It was hard to root for either one.

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"...they came down into the stands and asked if I knew how to do play by play. I said...No. But. I'll take a shot at it if you want".- Rick Jeanneret

Damn Flyers fans let the hockey world down with their dismal ratings for the Winter Classic. More folks in Philly tuned into something call the "Mummers Parade" than the game.

"Penn State won the big battle on New Year's Day as its victory over LSU in the Capital One Bowl earned a 10 rating/19 share for 6ABC. The Mummers Parade on myPHL17 strutted to second place with a 6 rating/12 share, and the Winter Classic featuring the Flyers was third with a 6 rating/11 share."

Five reasons not to panic about Winter Classic's ratings decline
By Greg Wyshynski
http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_d ... nhl,211696

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"Go out and run 'em."
- Lindy Ruff, 23 Feb. 2007

I didn't get a chance to watch it because I was baking apples pies for my aunt.

Love that bit.

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"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hockey Night in Buffalo

The NHL owns a hockey team. They can afford another refrigeration truck.

The league also doesn't have to own the truck. They managed to put on the Heritage Classic without one.

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"Go out and run 'em."
- Lindy Ruff, 23 Feb. 2007

UM/MSU game didnt require one either.

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I thinks it's stupid for the NHL to try and do a double header. All that does is run out of match-ups faster. I agree that OV needs to be in the next Winter Classic to draw a larger audience. But doing 2 a year doesnt make much sense to me. Especially when the NHL is already competeing with the bowl games.

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Driver of the Tyler Ennis Bandwagon, Ridin' shotgun on the Tyler Myers Bandwagon, chillin' on the Luke Adam Bandwagon


Eh

While i can not deny the history surrounding some baseball fields i feel that its a better game when its played in a football stadium. sure they dont have the character but it would be a lot easier for the fans to watch the game. as several people pointed out, much better sight lines.

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Check out my website: http://www.artistzero.com

"That wasn't very nice...I do believe you killed my hat."

Driver of the FIRE LINDY RUFF Bandwagon since 2008.

i dont think pittsburgh and detroit should be automatically out because they have played before. and hockey is sort of a big deal here.

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"Go out and run 'em."
- Lindy Ruff, 23 Feb. 2007

and i picked citi field because its a beautiful park. stunning, really. the new yankee stadium looks kinda... boring.

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If its in Citi, I wonder if the Islanders will play. Seems that most Mets fans are Islander fans.

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"...they came down into the stands and asked if I knew how to do play by play. I said...No. But. I'll take a shot at it if you want".- Rick Jeanneret