Pretty cool that this will be a night game. I found this on ESPN insider. I copy/pasted so you all can see it. I really hope we go all the freaking way this year. As much as I love Ovi, I can't say I disagree with any of this:
From
this article:
This year's Winter Classic at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh showcases the two best players in the NHL:
Sidney Crosby and
Alex Ovechkin. Since the two made their NHL debuts during the 2005-2006 season, pundits and fans have favored one or the other, and have subsequently favored either the Penguins or the Capitals as Stanley Cup contenders. But what do the guys who actually go head-to-head with these two superstars think?
We asked 26 players from 10 teams, five Western Conference and five Eastern Conference, who really gets top billing. We promised anonymity; they promised to tell the truth. Then we asked a few more questions -- about Sid and Ovi, Pittsburgh and Washington and the NHL's wildly popular New Year's Day game.
What did we find out? Everyone has an opinion. And nearly everyone watches HBO.
1. Who's the best player in the NHL, Crosby or Ovechkin?
100 percent of the players polled said Crosby is the best player in the NHL. Why? He's "a more complete player," "he's very dynamic and comes to play every night," "he's a leader," "he can change the game all by himself" and "he makes everyone around him better." This is a huge sea change from May 2009, when Sports Illustrated published a poll of 324 NHL players in which Ovechkin took home 51 percent of the vote as the league's best player. Then, Crosby was tied for eighth, with just 1.9 percent of the vote.
2. Is Crosby a dirty player?
In a TV interview during the first intermission of a Nov. 29 game between the Rangers and Penguins at Madison Square Garden, New York forward
Brandon Dubinsky dubbed Crosby a "dirty" player. Replays showed Crosby had indeed kicked out the left skate of Rangers forward
Ryan Callahan in a textbook "slew foot" move that went uncalled by the refs. Rather, Callahan was called for interference on the play, and Dubinsky obviously took exception. However,
100 percent of players in our poll said no, Crosby is not dirty. He merely "plays the game hard" and "with a bit of an edge," and "if you're going to hit him, he's going to come after you."
3. Which player do you respect more, Crosby or Ovechkin?
Team accomplishments ruled this question.
65.4 percent of players chose Crosby, because "he's won a Stanley Cup and a gold medal." 11.5 percent of players chose Ovechkin, "because he's more himself." And 23.1 percent of players said both, because "either one would turn me inside-out."
4. Which player would you want as a teammate more, Crosby or Ovechkin?
84.6 percent of respondents chose Crosby, because "he's a winner," "he does everything well" and "he seems like a nice guy." 15.4 percent of respondents chose Ovechkin, because "he's a beauty" and "he seems to have more fun."
5. If you could join either the Pens or the Caps, which team would you choose?
69.2 percent of respondents chose the Penguins, because "they're deeper" and "they have a better chance of winning." HBO's "Winter Classic 24/7" also hurt the Caps in this department. Said one respondent: "Pittsburgh seems so organized and professional about everything they do. Washington looks more like a tornado out there."
6. Which team do you fear more in the playoffs, the Pens or the Caps?
76.9 percent of respondents chose the Penguins, because "they've won before and know what it takes," "they're more balanced and have better goaltending" and "their firepower is scary."
7. Which team has the better coach, the Pens or the Caps?
50 percent chose Pittsburgh's
Dan Bylsma, while 34.6 percent said they couldn't answer without playing for both coaches. HBO's "24/7" was a contributing factor here, too, as several players cited Boudreau's expletive-laced performance in the show's first episode as the reason he comes in second to Bylsma.
8. Which team has better fans, the Pens or the Caps?
53.8 percent of respondents chose Pittsburgh, because "Pens fans are everywhere." 30.8 percent chose Washington, because "the fans are classier" and they "really Rock the Red." 15.4 percent said both buildings are loud and they couldn't choose a winner.
9. What city do you enjoy visiting more, Pittsburgh or Washington?
Despite the fact that, according to one player, "Washington seems stuffy and stuck-up because when we go out for dinner, everyone wears a bow tie and looks so smart and makes me feel out of place,"
25 of 26 respondents said they prefer to visit Washington. Why? Because of the city's history. Respondents said Pittsburgh is "cloudy and dreary" with "not a lot going on." The one respondent who did choose Pittsburgh? He grew up there.
10. Where would you most like to play a Winter Classic?
Dozens of locations were mentioned, but Yankee Stadium in New York City took first place with
26.9 percent of the vote. Rogers Centre in Toronto came in second, with 15.4 percent of the vote. Other suggestions? Montreal, Comerica Park in Detroit, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Winnipeg, Lambeau Field in Wisconsin, BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, Beaver Stadium at Penn State University, Ohio Stadium at Ohio State University and anywhere in "God's Country" of Alberta, Canada.
11. Is playing in the Winter Classic a career goal?
While most players didn't designate the outdoor game as a "career goal,"
50 percent of respondents who had not already played in the game said they'd love the opportunity to do so. Why? Because "playing outside reminds you of being a kid" and "brings back memories of when you'd play outside with all of your friends."
12. Are you happy with how the league determines who plays in the Winter Classic?
75 percent of players said they understood the league's rationale, and were in favor of "picking the league's best players" and "anything done to grow the game." But 25 percent said they "wished it was more fair" and that "everyone would get a chance."
13. Will you watch the Winter Classic?
88.5 percent of respondents said yes. The other 11.5 percent have games of their own that day, and wouldn't want to interrupt their afternoon nap.