Esquire 324 Report post Posted June 24, 2009 http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=282739 Trenton, NJ (Sports Network) - The NHL's third Winter Classic will be played between the Philadelphia Flyers and Boston Bruins at Fenway Park on January 1, 2010. It is being reported by the Trentonian that the league was trying to push for a Washington/Boston matchup at Fenway in order to feature two-time Hart Trophy winner Alex Ovechkin. However, NBC, who will broadcast the game, wanted the Flyers so as to draw a better television audience. Boston finished this past season as the top seed in the Eastern Conference and had a 22-point improvement over the previous season. The team won four awards including the Vezina, Jack Adams and Norris trophies, but were bounced in the second round of the playoffs by the Carolina Hurricanes. Meanwhile, Philadelphia went 44-27-11 in the regular season and finished fifth overall in the Eastern Conference, but were knocked out of the playoffs in the first round by the Pittsburgh Penguins, who went on to win the Stanley Cup. Last season's Winter Classic featured the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks at Chicago's Wrigley Field. In the game, Jiri Hudler scored twice and added an assist as the Red Wings took a 6-4 win over the Blackhawks. First the Stanley Cup Finals, now the Winter Classic. It's wonderful to see the NHL working with such understanding broadcasters. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JayUp88 1 Report post Posted June 24, 2009 I see nothing wrong with Boston taking on Philly. The real question is which team is going to pick up Conks? I'm thinking Philly for when Emery breaks down and starts to suck. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Echolalia 2,961 Report post Posted June 24, 2009 Another glorious decision by fearless NBCHL Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skacore 2 Report post Posted June 24, 2009 this'll be a real hockey game Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest mindfly Report post Posted June 24, 2009 Is this really a confirmation though? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HadThomasVokounOnFortSt 878 Report post Posted June 24, 2009 At least there ain't two Winter Classics.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest micah Report post Posted June 24, 2009 Boston and Philly? Awesome. I don't know which team will win, but hockey fans have already won - should be a great game to watch. I wouldn't have minded the Caps either, though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204 Report post Posted June 24, 2009 This will be great. It rots me that NBC is dictating everything the NHL does though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PROBIE4PREZ 58 Report post Posted June 24, 2009 Screw the Caps .. Philly vs Boston will probaly be the most physical game of all the winter classics .. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DyingAlive 27 Report post Posted June 24, 2009 I see nothing wrong with Boston taking on Philly. The real question is which team is going to pick up Conks? I'm thinking Philly for when Emery breaks down and starts to suck. I don't know, as far as I know, Manny Fernadez is a free agent. Philly and Boston have the opportunity to pick up Conks for his 4th Winter Classic Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jollymania 162 Report post Posted June 24, 2009 would rather see this than boston vs Washington anyways Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
redwings1914 18 Report post Posted June 24, 2009 The average sports fan cannot name a single player on either Boston or Philly. Dumb decision by the league, Washington vs Boston or New York would have worked a lot better because it would have given a big market (NY or BOS) and a star player (Ovechkin). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest micah Report post Posted June 24, 2009 The average sports fan cannot name a single player on either Boston or Philly. Dumb decision by the league, Washington vs Boston or New York would have worked a lot better because it would have given a big market (NY or BOS) and a star player (Ovechkin). The average television viewer hasn't seen hard-hitting, fast paced hockey in a couple decades, if ever. I think Boston/Philly has a better chance of captivatinng channel surfers and creating new hockey fans than just about anything else. I think that if both teams dressed their squads from 1975 it would be even better, but I digress. Televised hockey games are much more watchable today then they were even 15 years ago thanks to better technology - I think that if the NHL would sell what makes the sport unique, the code of conduct, the fact that players still police themselves, at least to a tinuy extent, viewers will come. Every sport has pretty plays and interesting strategies and such. If the NHL promotes and celebrates the things that make it unique instead of the things that make it the same as the soccer games that nobody in the US watches, they might just pick up a new generation of fans. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
betterREDthandead 58 Report post Posted June 24, 2009 What's wrong with Flyers/Bruins? Great old-school matchup if you ask me. I like it. If NBC thinks they can get more people to watch, great: the better the ratings, the better for the league. Maybe the average sports-but-not-hockey fan can't name any Flyers, but then again the average-sports-but-not-hockey fan probably thinks of the Capitals as a crap team (because that's what they've been during most of their existence) and the Flyers as a really good one (same reason.) And reading between the lines it sounds like they're not gonna do a second game (very smart) so I think the league is headed for a show almost as good as the one at Wrigley. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
evilmrt 636 Report post Posted June 24, 2009 Well, this is better than Bruins/Caps...but honestly, I'm not at all surprised about the NHL being pushed around by NBC, who broadcasts the games for FREE. Yay Bettman! I guess when you have a situation like that, you can't expect an american broadcaster to recognize that it should have been Montreal and Boston instead. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MadMan Mark 0 Report post Posted June 24, 2009 The game will have lots of hitting (Boston finishes every check) and not much scoring. . . 3-2 Boston, IMO Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
C-TownWing 0 Report post Posted June 24, 2009 What's wrong with Flyers/Bruins? Great old-school matchup if you ask me. I like it. If NBC thinks they can get more people to watch, great: the better the ratings, the better for the league. Yep...the Caps are great to watch but really, can you do better than this? These teams have about 40 years of shared history trying to be the meanest kid on the block--the Big Bad Bruins and the Broad Street Bullies. Maybe the two strongest team identities in the league. With these last two games, I almost want a do-over on the first one. I mean, it wasn't horrible, but 2009 and 2010 are off the charts good. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EastLansingNative 1 Report post Posted June 24, 2009 I'm surprised NBC didn't force the NHL into a Penguins vs. Penguins scrimmage... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
C20lw 0 Report post Posted June 24, 2009 I have no problem with a Bruins/Flyers game. Should be a great game. I just dont like NBC contributing to anything to do with the NHL. Idk why, just doesn't sit right with me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MadMan Mark 0 Report post Posted June 24, 2009 I'm surprised NBC didn't force the NHL into a Penguins vs. Penguins scrimmage... That's the best post of the day Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Esquire 324 Report post Posted June 24, 2009 I like the idea of the Flyers/Bruins match up, but I just shake my head when I think that NBC figures that the ratings will be higher with the Flyers as opposed to the Caps. How does having the NHL's most showboating and explosive offensive player who's won the Hart and Lester B Pearson awards for the past two years not make for ratings? This is perfect Ovechkin showtime if you ask me. The whole NHL fanbase will only be watching this ONE game and its situations like this (see: 2008 All-Star Game) that bring out the showman in OV. Add to this he's on the cover of NHL 2K10 and I don't really see how NBC can say they won't get ratings from the Caps being the second team. Then again, simply discussing anything regarding NBC and the NHL is likely to produce ridiculousness anyway. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NeverForgetMac25 483 Report post Posted June 24, 2009 Both have solid teams, an O-6 club along with the other having some decent history behind them. Good matchup, great venue. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Four Report post Posted June 24, 2009 Does the NBC own the NHL??? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DZ13 0 Report post Posted June 25, 2009 I don't have a problem with the matchup. Awhile back I guessed New York vs. Boston. One out of two ain't bad. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
evilmrt 636 Report post Posted June 25, 2009 I'm surprised NBC didn't force the NHL into a Penguins vs. Penguins scrimmage... HAHA! GOLD! Meanwhile CBC takes a backseat even though it generates how much money for the league? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
