Classic could be Caps' turning point

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WASHINGTON -- And so after all the muttering about buzz and a kind of stagnant feel to the 2015 Winter Classic, mutterings over the matchup and angst about the sun, there was only this: a flawless day and compelling hockey game that reinforced that whatever else the NHL does, the Winter Classic remains a gold standard in memorable.

End stop.

Shortly after 9 a.m. Thursday, the public areas outside Nationals Park were jammed with excited fans, most decked out in Capitals red gear.

And when the Chicago Blackhawks emerged from behind a faux United States Capitol Building and skated the length of a rectangular sheet of ice, meant to imitate the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, to the main rink in front of a sold-out crowd of 42,832, followed shortly thereafter by the hometown Washington Capitals, the debate over whether the Winter Classic had somehow lost its luster or appeal seemed silly.

Check the boxes.

The lack of a natural rivalry between the two teams, one of the factors that went into the perception this Winter Classic would pale in comparison to others, seemed not to matter to the Blackhawks and Capitals, who seemed to instantly find a high level of dislike for each other.

John Carlson of the Capitals whacked Andrew Shaw of the Blackhawks in the head during a Chicago power play, giving the Blackhawks a long 5-on-3 in the second period that the Capitals killed off. Tom Wilson clipped netminder Corey Crawford cruising in front of the Chicago net, drawing a penalty. There were a handful of post-whistle scrums.

The ice surface, always a source of debate or at least a talking point at these events, was fast and firm. Although the sun forced the teams to switch ends midway through the first period, the conditions were ideal.

Capitals defenseman Brooks Orpik, playing in his third Winter Classic and fourth outdoor game overall, said the ice at Nationals Park was easily the best he'd skated on. Although the play wilted a bit in the second period, the first and the third were played at a high tempo, with both teams able to make precision passes and move the puck without difficulty.

Alex Ovechkin, a beast on this day, scored the Caps' second goal and then set up Troy Brouwer's dramatic winner with 12.9 seconds left in regulation. The Caps' captain also somehow managed to hit two goal posts in about two minutes in the second period.

The other stuff -- the experience, the stuff that's harder to quantify -- also left little doubt that this event was, like its predecessors, a roaring success.

"I don't want to make this more than it is," Capitals owner Ted Leonsis said after the game in Washington's dressing room. "I mean, I'm hoping that we can continue to be a franchise that can accomplish bigger things than winning the Winter Classic. But it does feel good to have the league believe in us, and I think this was the best Winter Classic.

"If you look at the quality of the game, the speed of the game, the quality of the ice ... I think the weather was absolutely perfect. And to win at the buzzer, basically, it makes for great theater, great drama."

Indeed, it's hard to imagine that a year from now, when it's expected that the NHL will return to Boston for a second Winter Classic -- most likely at Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots -- anyone will remember any of this buzz discussion, because the Washington event has made the point moot.

If this experience in the nation's capital has taught us anything, it's that it's foolish to try to compare these events as though lining them in such a fashion can really serve as an evaluation regarding their impact on a community or franchise. The strong militaristic theme of this game -- the presence of the different branches of the service, the flyover by the fighter jets, and even Lee Greenwood singing "God Bless The USA" -- seemed absolutely apropos for this city.