Sid enjoying his time back in Winter Classic spotlight Sidney Crosby considers himself lucky to have been part of the first Winter Classic, in Buffalo in 2008
News-Sports.net - Dec 27,2010 - Sidney Crosby considers himself lucky to have been part of the first Winter Classic, in Buffalo in 2008.
That feeling hasn't changed now that he's going to play outside again at the 2011 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic. Crosby's Penguins will host Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals on New Year's Day at Heinz Field.
Crosby considers himself privileged once again to be part of the League's biggest regular-season moment, and he plans on enjoying every second of it, just as he did in 2008.
"I don't think the feeling of playing outside, a National Hockey League game, against a big rival, wears off," Crosby said on a conference call Monday. "I think we all feel pretty lucky to be in the game, and for some of us who have played in one already, it's another opportunity to be part of a pretty unique event. The fact we have it in Pittsburgh, against a rival and that it's become such a big event, we all feel lucky to be part of it."
However, Crosby said he doesn't believe he or the Penguins have any significant advantage having been through one Winter Classic before.
"Maybe a bit," said Crosby. "I think everyone has an idea … there may be stoppages, or there may be times when the ice feels slower, whatever the case is, that's to be expected. Whether or not you played in one before, I don't know if it's an advantage. I think for everything around it there might be a bit of an advantage because we've been through it, as far as dealing with conditions, things like that, but both teams should expect the same thing."
Playing outside naturally makes conditions dicey. There could be snow like the Penguins and the Sabres experienced in Buffalo, or there could be rain, or, well, just about anything. The latest weather report for Jan. 1 in Pittsburgh is 44 degrees with a chance of rain -- slightly warm for the area this time of year, and with the rain, the condition of the ice could become an issue. However, Crosby said there's a bigger picture involved upon which the players need to focus.
"It's something that you have to expect to deal with," said Crosby. "To be honest, I think both teams will be the first to tell you that no matter what the conditions or stoppages, they're both happy to be in that game. It's something that's a possibility but it's not something that's unusual for a game like that. That's to be expected. I don't think you're going to hear any complaints. We expect to deal with that. If anything we just cross our fingers and hope all the conditions are well -- more for the crew working on the ice, because they're not going to have an easy job. I think whatever happens, whatever the forecast is, whatever the weather is, we're just happy to be in that game, so everyone will be fine and I don't think you'll
