Winter Classic 2010 Another Cold Winner for NHL

The Winter Classic 2010 appears to be on, after fears of rain. So today's Winter Classic 2010 is the third installment of the NHL's newest showcase. There were fears that today's game would be called because of rain in Boston, but it seems to have held off. In fact, there's not even any snow to speak of at Fenway Park - though the NHL may be sadder to see that pass by. Still, the Winter Classic 2010 is yet another outdoor showcase for the NHL, as the Flyers and Bruins face off in the cold.

The first Winter Classic set the standard, as the Penguins faced the Sabres in front of 80,000 at Ralph Wilson Stadium. It was a perfect storm that day, as snow fell the whole way, and Sidney Crosby got the decisive shootout goal. In 2009, the second installment fell a bit shorter, as the Red Wings handled the Blackhawks at a snow-free Wrigley Field.

For the Winter Classic 2010, the location is a bigger attraction than the teams. Fenway Park is the second straight legendary baseball park to host a New Years hockey game. When the Bruins and Flyers were chosen to play, it looked to pair two Eastern Conference leaders. But things are a little bit different heading into the game.

The Bruins have been winning, but they come into today trailing the Sabres in the Northeast Division. The Flyers are in even worse shape, after a horrific slump that got their coach fired. Although the Flyers have won four straight under new coach Peter Laviolette, their Stanley Cup hopes are all but diminished, as they fight for a mere playoff berth.

But historically, teams that compete in the Winter Classic do well later on. The Penguins went to the Stanley Cup finals in 2008, while the Red Wings and Blackhawks went on to meet again in the Western Conference Finals last year. Boston and Philadelphia have a harder task, with the likes of Pittsburgh, New Jersey and Washington leading the East this year.

Yet the NHL is the big winner of the Winter Classic 2010, regardless of what happens on the ice. This event is their one big chance to compete with the other major sports, before the Stanley Cup is handed out. The past classics have been their highest rated games in decades, and have put a dent into college football's New Years Day monopoly.

This year's game, in front of 40,000 fans in Fenway, should have similar success - and further inspire high bids for future New Years games. The Flyers and Bruins take the pond at 1 pm est, on NBC.

Sources

Sporting News- "Winter Classic has folks buzzing....including NBC broadcasters"

Los Angeles Times- "NHL returns to the ice pond"

CSN Philly- "Classic Update: No Snow, or Rain, Falling at Fenway"