In a scene that was more fitting for a Buffalo Bills vs. Pittsburgh Steelers game, the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Buffalo Sabres 2-1 in a shootout. Sidney Crosby shot the puck through the five hole of Ryan Miller in the shootout for the victory. The celebration ensued and it was evident that this game was more important than any other regular season NHL game. The game was dubbed the Winter Classic and it was definitely a winter wonderland. The conditions ranged from rain, snow, sleet and back to snow again but the game continued on.
The Penguins struck first just 21 seconds in as Colby Armstrong fired a rebound passed Ryan Miller. Sidney Crosby skated around Brian Campbell and Miller made the initial save but could not glove the Armstrong shot out of the air. It took until the second period but the Sabres tied the game on a wrist shot from Brian Campbell. Campbell received a pass from Tim Connolly and skated into the slot unchallenged before his wrist shot beat Ty Conklin. The Sabres had a golden opportunity to win the game with a power play in overtime but Ty Conklin made four saves on the 4-on-3 to preserve the tie.
After all was said and done the Penguins earned four points in the home and home series with the Sabres while the Sabres came away with only one. The Sabres will be back in action on Friday night against the Ottawa Senators at HSBC Arena. It will be an opportunity for the Sabres to bounce back after losing four straight including two in a shootout.
I'm not sure what everyone was thinking but I got chills listening to Ronan Tynan sing God Bless America. I've heard him sing it many times during Yankee games and Sabres games but for some reason today was different. I actually felt the hair on my arm raise up. If you were at the game I would love to hear your thoughts on the pre-game ceremony, please leave a comment or e-mail me with your thoughts.
As I mentioned it was truly a memorable event but it was unfortunate that the conditions were what they were because it affected the game. I have to ask whether or not the weather being as bad as it was will make the game more or less memorable. Will this game be remembered for being a historical event or will it be remembered for hockey being played in the snow.
I'm sorry I had to add the clip of this commercial because it was hilarious. Whoever the writer is who came up with "YoMamaWeen" needs a raise...a big raise.