The Winter Classic: Detroit @ Chicago; 1-1-09; 12:00 CT

[WEFFPIM]

Well, it's here, kiddies. Let's hope the dolts show up for this one unlike this past meeting. I'll be in Chicago for New Years and hope to get to Wrigley tomorrow sometime to check out the festivities. If I get there I'll post pics. I won't be able to get there during the game, in fact won't be able to watch the game. but I am recording it.

Oh yeah, Suck Less, you Dolts, the entire world might be watching.

[SportsWorld]

Go Hawks!
New Year's Day: A 20 percent chance of snow after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 32. Wind chill values as low as zero. Breezy, with a south southwest wind between 10 and 20 mph.

[Posey H8er]

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=400829

[Posey H8er]

Lets go Hawks! Hopefully the Wrigley crowd is pumped like Buffalo's was last year. Even though the 100 level might be angered with their lack of good ice views.

[SportsWorld]

Hopefully a lot of Detroit Sucks chants. Payback for what happened yesterday.

[Howling Mad]

I have a banging headache, from not sleeping not from drinking, and after I have my morning Joe, I'm heading over to Casey's for some mimosas.

All week long I'm telling myself not to get excited, just in case it isn't what I think it is, but today, I'm pumped.

I'll be along the first baseline, I'm wearing my Kane jersey and I'll have a big blue Cubs beanie with a big red furry ball on top of it (got it for xmas), look for me.

[shakes]

Biggest game for the franchise in over 40 years. Even bigger than the Stanley Cup loss to Pittsburg (considering the outcome). This is the first time in at least 25 years that the ENTIRE city of Chicago will be paying attention to the Blackhawks. A good showing tonight and the Hawks could increase their fanbase by tens of thousands.

How huge this event is for the home team can not be underestimated.

[Magilla_Gorilla]

I have a banging headache, from not sleeping not from drinking, and after I have my morning Joe, I'm heading over to Casey's for some mimosas.

All week long I'm telling myself not to get excited, just in case it isn't what I think it is, but today, I'm pumped.

I'll be along the first baseline, I'm wearing my Kane jersey and I'll have a big blue Cubs beanie with a big red furry ball on top of it (got it for xmas), look for me.

You son of a bitch! You're living the dream!


Wish I was there - *wipes tear*

[Posey H8er]

Nice **** hit by Seabrook!

1-0 Hawks!

[Posey H8er]

What a pass by Verstud, 2-1 Hawks!

[Posey H8er]

EAGER! This is Blackhawks hockey!

I'm jealous of you BEP.

[timd1218]

Ben Eager goes from being a piece of crap in Philly to being a pretty good hockey player. That was a nice move by him.

This game is so much better than last year's winter classic. The ice conditions are making a big difference, plus the matchup helps as well.

Chicago is looking really good so far this game.

[Celtics_Champs]

to this game!

[Posey H8er]

Awful period.

[Posey H8er]

Game. Huet has been brutal.

[Posey H8er]

6-3. Good Game.

[SportsWorld]

Disappointing result but the Blackhawks and the NHL put on another A+ performance.

The NHL put up better numbers in the TV ratings than last year as expected:
http://sportsmediawatch.blogspot.com/

Ratings perked up for the second Winter Classic.

NBC drew a 2.9 overnight rating for the the Red Wings' 6-4 win over the Blackhawks at Wrigley Field, up 12% from a 2.6 for last year's Penguins/Sabres game at Ralph Wilson Stadium. The 2.9 overnight is the highest for a regular season NHL game in over a decade.

The game drew an 11.8 rating in host-city Chicago, and a 10.5 in Detroit.

The 2.9 overnight is the fourth-highest for the NHL on NBC since the network began airing games in 2006, behind only three Stanley Cup Finals telecasts.

Highest overnight ratings for NHL on NBC.
4.4: Red Wings/Penguins (Wed., 6/4/08, 8 PM NBC)
4.3: Penguins/Red Wings (Mon., 6/2/08, 8 PM NBC)
4.1: Oilers/Hurricanes (Mon., 6/19/06, 8 PM NBC)
2.9: Red Wings/Blackhawks (Thu., 1/1/09, 1 PM NBC)
2.9: Hurricanes/Oilers (Wed., 6/14/06, 8 PM NBC)
2.8: Red Wings/Penguins (Wed., 5/28/08, 8 PM NBC)
2.6: Red Wings/Penguins (Sat., 5/31/08, 8 PM NBC)
2.6: Penguins/Sabres (Tue., 1/1/08, 1 PM NBC)
2.5: Senators/Ducks (Wed., 6/6/07, 8 PM NBC)
2.4: Oilers/Hurricanes (Mon., 6/12/06, 8 PM NBC

[Posey H8er]

Unfortunately the Blackhawks might have messed up their hope of gaining new fans through the Classic. The only good moments was the entire first period, Seabrook's hit on Cleary, and the anthem.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CU4C9EiQWng

[SportsWorld]

Oh wow the crowd noise for the anthem sounded so much louder on the CBC broadcast.