It’s cold, the sightlines are awful and it costs a fortune, but there’s nowhere a true fan would rather be. (Will Schneekloth/ZUMAPRESS.com)

By Stu Hackel

Why is the Winter Classic such a huge success for the National Hockey League and why is it likely to continue being so? Let me count the ways:

First, this event becomes an oversized demonstration of devotion to the home team during the holiday season of celebration — and everybody likes a celebration. If you are a fan of the Flyers, you wanted to be in the Phillies’ ballpark for this game.

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As expected, the play was physical with sudden momentum swings. (Bob Fina/ZUMAPRESS.com)

By Stu Hackel

6:06 — Rangers 3, Flyers 2. Final score. Fireworks are shot off, but the majority of the Flyers faithful is leaving disappointed. Ranger fans crowd around the third base dugout and cheer their team as it comes off the ice …The Flyers now file off and they’re getting a smattering of boos in the fine Philadelphia tradition….Mike Rupp is named First Star of the Game for two goals, but Henrik Lundqvist, who goes down the steps to the third base dugout to hearty cheers from the Rangers faithful, gets my star…So that’s the game. We’ll have more on the whole Winter Classic experience tomorrow in the blog…Thanks for joining us.

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