Washington Capitals fans cheer after the team scored the game-winning goal in the final seconds of the third period of the Winter Classic outdoor NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks at Nationals Park in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015. The Capitals won 3-2.Susan Walsh/The Associated Press
The NHL almost could not have scripted the 2015 Winter Classic any better.
From the time the Washington Capitals and Chicago Blackhawks took the ice at Nationals Park, through a flyover by F-16 fighter jets, an Alex Ovechkin goal and the drama of a late winner by Troy Brouwer, Thursday's game was a showcase of top-of-the-line hockey.
"It's a celebration of our game," Capitals defenceman Matt Niskanen said.
It was a celebration of the good and the bad. The only thing that hurt the majesty of the afternoon was a series of late penalty calls that contributed to the Capitals' 3-2 victory .
A questionable hooking penalty on Jonathan Toews in the game's final minute paved the way for Brouwer's goal with 12.9 seconds left.
"I don't know how much that play deserved a call there, how much it had to do with maybe us getting a few more opportunities on the power play previously in the game," Toews said. "It's not a good feeling especially with the excitement, the hype and the energy that surrounded this whole thing leading up to this game."
For more than 55 minutes, this was a game so well played it would've been a thriller no matter the setting. Sun played a role on at least one goal, but the ice was so good the teams were able to race up and down like a track meet.
Washington waited four years since the Capitals visited the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2011 Winter Classic to host this event. Despite concerns about sun glare, it began on time because captains Ovechkin and Toews and Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford gave the thumbs up during pregame warm-ups.
Unlike past Winter Classics, there wasn't a sloppy feeling-out period. Eric Fehr scored on a breakaway early, his third outdoor goal in his second Winter Classic to become the NHL's leader in that category.
The teams switched ends at the 10-minute mark of the first period to make it fair, given the sun glare. Not long after that, Ovechkin scored on a rebound and Patrick Sharp answered for the Blackhawks on a power-play goal that Braden Holtby couldn't see because of the sun.
When the elements weren't a factor, the facts of hockey came into play. The Blackhawks got 1:31 of a five-on-three power play in the second period, but Duncan Keith's stick broke at the blueline and they got zero shots on net in their best chance to take control.
"The mentality today was just shoot the puck and things happen, but on a five-on-three, it's not the same mentality, which probably didn't help us," Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said.
A late penalty on Niskanen – a borderline boarding call – gave Chicago another opportunity. There were two seconds left on that power play when Toews got his stick across the body of Capitals centre Nicklas Backstrom.
"I don't really think at any point in the game the refs are looking to give an easy one to a team," Washington defenceman Karl Alzner said. "It's bad timing for them, good timing for us."
When Saad slashed Ovechkin on the ensuing penalty kill, the puck was free for Brouwer to turn around and fire it past Corey Crawford.
"I'm not sure where it even went in, but I heard the noise of the crowd, heard the noise of the guys on the ice," Brouwer said. "It was one of those where you know the time, you know the score, and you're just trying to get a puck on net, and thankfully it went in."
Brouwer was playing with a heavy heart 11 days after Clint Reif, an assistant equipment manager for the Blackhawks and a friend, was found dead at his home. Brouwer's father, who had a stroke two years ago, was also among the 42,832 in attendance and sent him a congratulatory text message after the goal.
There were plenty of memorable images, including before the game when players entered around a replica of the U.S. Capitol Building and a giant American flag was unfurled on the ice. After the puck was dropped at 1:30 with a perfect temperature of just over six degrees, there was Ovechkin jumping into the glass to celebrate his 18th goal of the season.
But by the end, Capitals fans added another by tossing their seat cushions in the air to celebrate Brouwer's goal. It's a local tradition that dates back to a Washington Redskins NFL playoff game in 1991 down the street at old RFK Stadium.
The Capitals became just the second home team to win a Winter Classic, joining the Bruins, who needed overtime to beat the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2010 event at Fenway Park.