Is The Winter Classic more important?

[TRIPLE P]

Is it more important for the team to win that game than your average regular season game? It might be for the teams morale... its a fun event, national TV, the game will be talked about and shown whenever they do a winter classic next, and the time after....

I would imagine we'll see the best Sabres team in that game...

[TheAnswer74]

Its going to be a big game for a number of reasons.

I honestly dont think it gets above a 2 rating, which will suck.

[bduff54]

nah, if they lose they can just blame it on the conditions

[sukie]

Sabres lose 4-1

[theratt17]

Sabres lose 4-1

???

[daryls61]

I would say that the game itself is bigger than who wins. It is all about exposure and marketing.

[Denverbillsfan]

I think it's important for the home team to win.

[anEinherjer]

Home team must win, you don't want 50k fans walking out halfway thru the 3rd...

I'm tempted to expect a WWE-style fix... expect if we're down 1 to get PP chances as often as possible.......

[beTough54]

Home team must win, you don't want 50k fans walking out halfway thru the 3rd...

I'm tempted to expect a WWE-style fix... expect if we're down 1 to get PP chances as often as possible.......

Yep, getting out to a big lead would be a bad idea. The refs will almost certainly get involved in the game if it starts getting out of hand.

[mosuavea]

Game is of no more importance than normal. Its really a gimmick to get attention that just isn't going to work. Your typical sports fan will turn in and say wow, hockey game outdoors, thats kind of lame and flip over to the bowl game(s). Hockey fans will love it though.

Broadcasters will spew loads all over Crosby, worse than your typical National coverage, until he turns even more pasty than he already is.

Countless talk about how and how not the Sabres have coped with the losses of Briere and Drury. I also expect lots of talk about the Buffalo fans and how immense the support is for the Sabres.

All in all its just another hockey game int he standings and will absolutely have no effect on team morale if they do lose. If they win, great, if they lose, it was an outdoor game that threw off preparation and routine and it will be chalked up to that on either side who loses.

I will be there, rooting for the Sabres, but I don't expect to get calls at all and I think its going to be a tough game for the Sabres to win, regardless of the home crowd advantage.

[CrazzyLegs10]

Home team must win, you don't want 50k fans walking out halfway thru the 3rd...

I'm tempted to expect a WWE-style fix... expect if we're down 1 to get PP chances as often as possible.......

no ones leaving half way through third, that hasn't even happened this year. this team feeds off energy, and Pit has terrible goaltending, its almost going to be impossible for this game to be UN-entertaining

[sukie]

Still... Sabres lose it 4-1.. Book it!

[buffalofan19]

I'm going to do it.

After a performance like that, you have to know that Ruff will lay into them. I am guaranteeing a Sabres' victory on Tuesday at the Winter Classic

[BanditsRock11]

no ones leaving half way through third, that hasn't even happened this year. this team feeds off energy, and Pit has terrible goaltending, its almost going to be impossible for this game to be UN-entertaining

The same terrible goaltending that just stone walled the Sabres tonight....or...?

[Meathead]

for the jillionth time the ONLY reason any regular season game means anything is whether it helps them get to the playoffs

so no this game means no more than any other

[daschuck77]

Is it more important for the team to win that game than your average regular season game? It might be for the teams morale... its a fun event, national TV, the game will be talked about and shown whenever they do a winter classic next, and the time after....

I would imagine we'll see the best Sabres team in that game...

PPP,

I do hope the Sabres win and spoil NBC's, NHL's, and RBK's Sidney Crosby Extravaganza Show.

[stevenj966]

Pittsburgh will get the calls all day. Count on it. All this will be, is the Sidney Crosby Show.