The 2008 NHL Winter Classic

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Dec 30, 2010

The 2008 NHL Winter Classic

Penguins 2, Sabres 1, SO

An NHL-record crowd of 71,217 attended the Winter Classic between Pittsburgh and Buffalo on New Year's Day at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y., the first ever outdoor NHL game on U.S. soil.

Penguins 2, Sabres 1, SO

Ryan Miller donned a toque, fashioned out of a hockey sock, on top of his mask, while Ty Conklin featured snowflakes and a Winter Classic theme on his mask. Miller and Conklin both had one game of experience playing a major outdoor hockey game, but neither owned a victory. Miller earned a 3-3 tie for Michigan State against Michigan in the 2001 "Cold War" game in front of 74,554 fans at Spartan Stadium. Conklin took the loss in host Edmonton's 4-3 defeat to Montreal on Nov. 22, 2003, during the NHL's first outdoor game, which drew 57,167.

Penguins 2, Sabres 1, SO

NHL legend and Penguins chairman Mario Lemieux talks with young star Evgeni Malkin during warm-ups.

Penguins 2, Sabres 1, SO

Sidney Crosby creates a screen in front of goalie Ryan Miller for teammate Colby Armstrong to score 21 seconds into the game.

Penguins 2, Sabres 1, SO

Thomas Vanek can't control the puck on a scoring chance against Ty Conklin, who stopped 36 of 37 shots.

Penguins 2, Sabres 1, SO

Fans, both shirtless and dressed in layers, cheer with Sabres mascot Sabretooth.

Penguins 2, Sabres 1, SO

Sabres' defenseman Jaroslav Spacek checks Jordan Staal into the boards, a day after Spacek was named his club's captain for January.

Penguins 2, Sabres 1, SO

Ales Kotalik scores on Ty Conklin in the game's first shootout attempt.

Penguins 2, Sabres 1, SO

Ty Conklin makes the save on Tim Connolly during Buffalo's second shootout attempt.

Penguins 2, Sabres 1, SO

Kris Letang celebrates his shootout goal that tied the Sabres. The defenseman, with 2 goals in 21 games this season, pushed his shootout record to 4-for-4 with a shifty, multi-move rush through accumulating snow that finished with a high shot past Ryan Miller.

Penguins 2, Sabres 1, SO

Sidney Crosby scores the game-winner for the Penguins past Ryan Miller in a shootout. Crosby shot the puck between Miller's legs as Miller attempted to poke check the puck with his stick.

Penguins 2, Sabres 1, SO

When Crosby saw the puck cross the goal line, he spun toward the jubilant Penguins bench and jumped up and down with his hands raised. "It's a great feeling and a great experience, all in all," said Crosby. "We've got some pretty decent weather. It wasn't too cold. I thought they did a pretty good job of trying to maintain the ice. And obviously when you win, it's a lot nicer."