2008 NHL Winter Classic

Preparations

Construction of the outdoor rink began on December 24, the day after the Buffalo Bills played their last home game of the 2007 NFL season. It was built between the 16-yard lines of the football field, under the supervision of NHL facilities operations manager Dan Craig. Crew members first removed the goal posts and laid down large tarps over the field to protect it from the weather. Initially, six inches (150 mm) of the nine-inch (230 mm) crown of the football field had to be leveled using styrofoam insulation. On top of the newly created flat surface, three inches (75 mm) of plywood with plastic covering were laid as a base for the necessary piping. At the same time the boards were being put in place, an inch of sand was spread amongst the piping and was then wet by a combination of hoses and timely rain so it could freeze into a rink overnight and be painted four days before the game. Another ¾ of an inch of ice was added to complete the playing surface. Due to the inclement weather and lack of a rink system, Craig later stated that the fact that they were able to succeed was remarkable. The NHL had created a backup plan in case the weather became unmanageable.

After this experience, Commissioner Gary Bettman stated that the League would like more time to prepare the site for the next outdoor game. He also wanted to ensure that not too many outdoor games are held so the event can remain special. This sentiment was further echoed by hockey pundits, such as Scott Burnside.

Attendance

The game was attended by 71,217 people, setting an NHL attendance record. The former NHL record of 57,167 was set at the 2003 Heritage Classic between the Montreal Canadiens and Edmonton Oilers in Edmonton, Alberta, on November 22, 2003. Georges Laraque and Ty Conklin are the only two players who have played in both the Heritage Classic and Winter Classic games. They both played for the Oilers and Penguins, respectively, for each game. While it was the record for a professional game, it fell short of the then all-time number of 74,554, which was set in "The Cold War" between the University of Michigan and Michigan State University on October 6, 2001. Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller and Penguins forward Adam Hall both played for Michigan State in that game.

Approximately 41,000 tickets to the game were made available to the general public, selling out within 30 minutes of their release on September 18, 2007. In the face of controversy about the quickness of ticket sales, an official spokesperson for the Sabres called it "a testament to how popular the Sabres are and how many people want to be part of the event." However, many Penguins fans were left out because they did not have the opportunity to purchase tickets after they became available to the city hosting the event, and they were frustrated by the lack of exclusivity for Penguins season-ticket holders. Game show host Pat Sajak attended the Winter Classic and spoke positively of his experience.

Television and radio coverage

The game was televised in the United States on NBC and in Canada on CBC's Hockey Night in Canada and Le Réseau des sports. The game garnered a 2.2 rating and drew 3.75 million viewers. Nearly 7,000 seats at Ralph Wilson Stadium were obstructed due to television cameras for NBC's broadcast. NBC announcers Mike Emrick and Eddie Olczyk stood on a constructed perch by the penalty boxes. Jim Hughson and Craig Simpson also announced the game from behind the penalty boxes, with Greg Millen between the benches.

Pregame

Prior to the start of the event, fans began tailgating in the parking lot as is customary at football games. Former Boston Bruins player Kraig Nienhuis attended the game and played guitar for fans in an unofficial capacity. There was also an official pregame band, and a bagpipe player led players out onto the ice.

Doug Allen sang the Canadian national anthem ("O Canada") and Irish tenor Ronan Tynan performed "God Bless America" before the game. A military flyover was conducted by four UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters. Singer-songwriter Sam Roberts performed songs from his band's album Chemical City during the second intermission.

Rule changes

Due to the expected inclement weather, the NHL announced that several rule changes were in effect for this game to nullify advantages to either team due to the weather conditions. The teams switched ends halfway through the third period, and play was interrupted exactly at the 10:00 minute mark to allow the ice to be resurfaced. In the shootout, each goaltender was permitted to choose which goal to defend, and they each chose the same goal, towards the west side of the stadium. There were multiple unexpected delays during the game to scrape snow and to repair holes in the ice.

If the game had been stopped early, it would have only counted as "official" after two full periods. In that case, the team in the lead would be declared the winner and earn two points. If the score was tied when the game was stopped, both teams would get one point, and a shootout would take place right away. If weather conditions made an immediate shootout impossible, it would have been rescheduled for February 17. While both teams were aware of these format changes, the NHL didn’t share them publicly until shortly before the game.

Game summary

The teams wore vintage jerseys for the event, with the Penguins wearing powder blue jerseys for the first time since 1973. The Sabres wore their old white jerseys, which they wore from 1978 to 1996. In addition to the retro jerseys, the goaltenders also wore speciality masks designed specifically for the Winter Classic. Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller added a retro Sabres logo to his mask while Ty Conklin's featured snowflakes and a Winter Classic logo. Miller also alternated between three toques, which would later be auctioned off for his charity, the " Steadfast Foundation." Penguins backup Dany Sabourin wore a set of vintage-styled pads but did not play.

Weather for the game was appropriate to the winter setting it was intended to evoke, with game-time temperatures around the freezing mark and snow falling for much of the time, especially during the third period. The weather conditions made play somewhat more difficult for players but were well received by fans.

The Penguins registered 25 shots on goal, and the Sabres had 37, dominating the second and overtime periods, leading those 14–2 and 7–0, respectively. Each goalie allowed one goal in playing time not including the shootout, giving Conklin 36 saves for the Penguins, and Miller 24 for the Sabres.

:Number in parentheses represents the player's total in goals or assists to that point of the season

Team rosters

: Jocelyn Thibault dressed for the Buffalo Sabres as the back-up goalie and did not enter the game. Dany Sabourin dressed for the Pittsburgh Penguins as the back-up goalie and did not enter the game.

Scratches

• Pittsburgh Penguins: #10 Gary Roberts (injured)
• Buffalo Sabres: #4 Nolan Pratt (healthy), #21 Drew Stafford (concussion)

Officials

• Referees — Marc Joannette, Don VanMassenhoven
• Linesmen — Brad Kovachik, Tim Nowak

Future games

Due to the success of the Winter Classic and its predecessor, outdoor games have been held during subsequent seasons, and the Winter Classic has become an annual NHL tradition. The next Winter Classic was held on January 1, 2009, at Wrigley Field in Chicago, matching the Detroit Red Wings against the Chicago Blackhawks. Winter Classics have been held in every year since, except for 2013, which was interrupted by the 2012–2013 NHL lockout. The NHL Heritage Classic, which began in 2003, have had six Heritage Classics since the Winter Classic. The league expanded its offerings of outdoor games with the introduction of the NHL Stadium Series in 2014. Since the inaugural Winter Classic, the NHL has held 34 additional outdoor games, which includes the Winter Classic, the Stadium Series, and the Heritage Classic, as well as one-off events like the Centennial Classic, NHL 100 Classic and NHL Outdoors at Lake Tahoe games.

References

References

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