Caps Weather The Storm, Pens Iced In Winter Classic

The 2011 version of the NHL’s Winter Classic lacked the mystique and aura of its predecessors.  Perhaps it was the weather-induced seven-hour delay, a steady rain that pelted the ice for the final two periods, or it might have been the suspect NBC production, but regardless, the Washington Capitals managed the elements significantly better than their hosts and emerged victorious 3-1 to ring in the New Year at Pittsburgh’s Heinz Field.

After Evgeni Malkin delighted a majority of the 70,000 fans on site with his goal 2:13 into the second period, the Capitals responded with three unanswered tallies, including two from Eric Fehr to climb within two points of the Eastern-Conference-leading Penguins.

Malkin’s wrister past Semyon Varlamov was matched by a power play goal from Mike Knuble less than five minutes later.  Knuble took advantage of a scrum in front of the cage and poked the puck under Marc-Andre Fleury’s sprawled pads.

It was a Fleury error eight minutes later that gave Washington a decided advantage.  In a game that lacked rhythm because of rain-soaked ice that caused pucks to roll and bounce constantly, Fleury misjudged the puck’s location trying to make a play behind the net and Fehr capitalized with an easy tally.

However, it was a clean goal from Fehr that sealed the Penguins’ fate.  A perfect outlet from their defensive zone that featured three crisp passes, not easy considering the conditions, led to Fehr’s game-winning dagger.  It was Fehr’s second career multi-goal game and increased his season goal total to seven.

As for the television production, at times I wasn’t sure if NBC’s director and/or cameramen had ever watched hockey before.  Granted, it must have been difficult producing a broadcast from a football stadium, but a nausea-creating overhead shot and several shoddy transitions ruined the NHL’s premier event in my opinion. Pierre Maguire, taking Bob Errey’s spot between the benches at ice level, was useless.  Most of the times he didn’t have insight, and when he did, he found it necessary to have Eddie O. validate it.

Any time the announcers have to tell their audience that they “hope” the environment is being accurately portrayed, there is trouble.  That was the case tonight.  Whether Pittsburgh and Heinz Field was a suitable host or not, I cannot say from watching my tube.  I do know that the weather was a significant hindrance and the entire television operation seemed tired and distracted.

This was not the showcase that Sidney Crosby, the Penguins, and the NHL hoped.

Game notes…

• Pittsburgh forward Jordan Staal played his first game after recovering from consecutive foot and hand injuries.  Although he didn’t have a major contribution either way toward the outcome, it was nice to have #11 back on the ice.
• Two goals – one for Pittsburgh (Rupp) and one for Washington (Ovechkin) – were wiped out for incidental contact with the goalie.  Rupp’s goal would have tied the game 2-2, while Ovechkin’s would have slammed the door at 4-1.
• NBC made it a point to say that Washington had 30,000 tickets for the game.  I found it disgusting to hear the loud roars after the Caps scored and eventually won.  I am sure they received a financial bonus for playing in the game, but 43 percent of ticket sales for the visiting team is too much.