Caps win franchise's first appearance in Winter Classic

Seeking vengeance for a recent shootout loss on Dec. 23 to the Penguins,  the Capitals approached the frozen pond at Heinz Field with a great opportunity to make a statement about their position in the Eastern Conference. Saturday, they seized that opportunity.

With a rain delay pushing the game back to an 8 pm start, the Capitals were visibly anxious to get on the ice. Ovechkin rocked in his seat on the bench like a psychiatric patient, Mike Green scanned the crowd thirstily after every shot in warm-ups, and Bruce glared down the familiar foes on the opposing bench.

Even though was there was no scoring right away, the game got off to a fast start as the Pens and the Caps threw bone-crushing hits and nearly skated out of their boots. The animosity picked up when John Erskine and Mike Rupp got into a tussle. The two righties exchanged punches as the crowd roared. After both players went down and returned to their feet, the fight ended in utter exhaustion.

Evgeni Malkin struck fear in the hearts of Caps fans when he skated in alone and finished off a one-on-one with Semyon Varlamov early in the second. But, Mike “The Garbageman” Knuble evened the tally when he shoveled in a loose puck during a scramble in front of Marc-Andre Fleury.

After the tying goal the Caps took the offensive. Eight minutes later Eric “Fehr-Burger” Fehr converted on a siiicckkkk pass from the rookie Marcus Johansson. That would be the deciding goal. Fehr stretched the lead when he went top-shelf on Fleury.

The conditions were not exactly preferred by either team when the rain picked up late in the 2^nd period. By withholding a last-minute gasp by the Penguins, the Capitals held on for the 3-1 victory, arguable the biggest win of the year.

Much-loathed superstar Sidney Crosby was held scoreless by a fierce Washington defensive effort led by Green and Hannan. Center David Steckel stuck it to Crosby in the second with a vicious, blindside hit as the period came to a close.

Varly came up big between the pipes with 32 saves, and Ovechkin, although scoreless, showed his usual dose of brilliance. Fleury stopped Ovi on a breakaway in the second.

Player of the Game: Eric Fehr (two goals)

Stat of the Game: 0 points (Crosby)

Hit of the Game: Steckel on Crosby (second period)

Unsung Hero: John Erskine

SM & MR