New Year's Day is always an exciting time for the NHL as each year two of the league's biggest rivals take their feud out into the elements for the Winter Classic.
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Since its inception in 2008, the annual spectacle has grown into one of the most highly-anticipated contests on the sports calendar each year. To start 2016, two of the NHL's oldest teams will go head-to-head when the puck drops on the Canadiens and Bruins at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.
Before these two heated Original Six rivals go outside, here's a look back and ranking of the first seven Winter Classics. To view this article in slideshow form, CLICK START at the top right of this page.
Best Winter Classic Moments Ever
7) Red Wings at Blackhawks, 2009
These two teams turned the Friendly Confines into a warzone as Wrigley Field received a makeover to ring in 2009. This contest won't appear on the résumés of Red Wings goaltender Ty Conklin or Blackhawks netminder Cristobal Huet, who was eventually pulled for Nikolai Khabibulin. Detroit overcame a 3-1 first-period deficit and eventually won the game, 6-4.
6) Blackhawks at Capitals, 2015
This year's Winter Classic was quite the spectacle as the Blackhawks and Capitals did battle at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. With the game tied 2-2 in the third period, it seemed destined for overtime until Troy Brouwer netted the game-winning power play goal with just 12.9 seconds left in regulation to propel Washington to victory. The Capitals became the first home team to win the Winter Classic since 2010.
5) Capitals at Penguins, 2011
This matchup was moved to prime time and had the extra hype of Alex Ovechkin vs. Sidney Crosby at the Steelers' home of Heinz Field, but neither superstar factored into the scoresheet. Eric Fehr was the hero that evening, breaking a 1-1 tie with back-to-back unanswered goals in the second and third periods to lift the Capitals to a 3-1 victory.
4) Maple Leafs at Red Wings, 2014
A Winter Classic record of 105,491 NHL fans packed "The Big House" at Michigan Stadium for this New Year's Day tilt after it was wiped away by the lockout in 2013. The game was an epic battle, which couldn't be solved in regulation or overtime. With the teams tied at 2-2 on the scoreboard and 1-1 in the shootout, Tyler Bozak netted the game-winner past Jimmy Howard to give the road team a victory in the third straight Winter Classic.
3) Rangers at Flyers, 2012
From unlikely goal-scorers to a penalty shot, this Winter Classic, which was the only one ever played on Jan. 2, had it all. With the Flyers up 2-0, Mike Rupp, who is known more for his fisticuffs than his scoring prowess, netted two goals to draw the Rangers even. After Brad Richards netted the go-ahead goal, Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh covered the puck in the crease, giving the Flyers a penalty shot with 19.6 seconds remaining. Henrik Lundqvist made the save on Daniel Briere and the Rangers escaped Citizens Bank Park with the win.
2) Flyers at Bruins, 2010
Historic Fenway Park turned into a hockey stadium for this epic game, which couldn't find a victor in regulation after Mark Recchi tied the game up at 1-1 with less than three minutes left. In overtime, Marco Sturm played hero, netting the game-winning goal, beating Michael Leighton to win the game.
1) Penguins at Sabres, 2008
It's hard to top the original, which took place at Ralph Wilson Stadium under snowy conditions, setting a tremendous scene for what was to follow on that exciting, historic afternoon. The ending also seemed as though it came out of a Hollywood script. With the game tied 1-1, it eventually went to a shootout with face of the NHL Sidney Crosby given a chance to win it. Crosby beat Ryan Miller for the game-winner, finishing off a tremendous day for the NHL and jump-starting a great hockey tradition.
