PHILADELPHIA – Most of the Philadelphia Flyers have embraced the idea of playing the New York Rangers outdoors on Monday in the fifth annual Winter Classic, this one at Citizens Bank Park.
Jaromir Jagr isn’t one of them.
Oh, the veteran right winger thinks it’ll be wonderful for the fans in the ballpark and the 4 million or 5 million TV viewers, and he understands why the market-savvy NHL puts together the overhyped spectacle each January.
But ...
“You know what, it’s so funny to me that everybody is so happy here to play outside, but when I was a kid I played outside all the time, and I was so happy to play inside,” he said the other day, laughing. “I may be the only guy upset about it.”
Jagr paused.
“When you play in Russia, most of the arenas are outside. Soooo cold. Trust me, it’s a lot better to be inside.”
Is he curious to play his first professional game outdoors?
“I don’t think the game is going to be that good,” he said. “The ice isn’t going to be that good. … But it’s kind of special because of the fans. That’s what’s special, no question about it.”
Jagr’s teammates, especially the ones who have not played outdoors since their youth, can’t wait to skate at Citizens Bank Park.
“I’m kind of getting chills,” said winger Matt Read, who is the NHL’s second-leading scorer among rookies with 12 goals.
“It’s going to be awesome. So many guys have friends and family in town, so it’s an exciting time,” said winger Wayne Simmonds, who will have his girlfriend and other friends and relatives at the game.
“I can’t wait to step on the ice,” winger Jakub Voracek said. “It’s going to be different, but it’s going to be fun. I haven’t played outside since I was 9 or 10.”
Read acknowledged it might be difficult to harness his emotions at the beginning of the game.
“I’m sure in warm-ups and maybe the first couple shifts, you’ll be gripping the stick maybe a little tighter,” he said. “… It’s like your first NHL game. For me, it’ll be nerve-racking the first couple shifts, but hopefully you can loosen up after that and just play your game.”
Claude Giroux, the smooth-skating center who has become an early MVP candidate, said playing in front of the hometown fans makes this game more exciting than the Winter Classic at Fenway Park two years ago.
“You don’t get a lot of chances to play in these types of games, so you’ve got to make sure you enjoy it,” he said.
Coach Peter Laviolette, who refused to say whether slumping Ilya Bryzgalov or sizzling Sergei Bobrovsky will be his starting goalie, is looking forward to today’s practice at Citizens Bank Park.
“Getting in there a day early will really help,” Laviolette said. “Walking out of the tunnel and taking it all in for the first time. … Getting in and getting our feet wet with regard to the building and routes and what it feels like on the ice and the boards is all a part of it.”
Unlike Jagr, Laviolette is getting an extra kick out of the Classic.
“Am I excited? Is everybody excited? I don’t know how you can’t be excited about a game like this,” he said.
Alumni game: Thirty-two years after his Hall of Fame career ended, white-haired Bernie Parent pitched another shutout Saturday.
In a 5-minute, 32-second stint in which he stopped all six shots he faced – including one on Ron Duguay’s breakaway – the 66-year-old Parent was a showstopper at the Winter Classic alumni game against the Rangers at electric Citizens Bank Park, sparking the Flyers to a 3-1 victory.
As he skated off the ice after his appearance, chants of “Bernie, Bernie, Bernie” echoed around the sold-out ballpark. The crescendo built as orange-clad fans, young and old — many of whom weren’t even born when Parent led the Flyers to Stanley Cups in 1974 and 1975 — joined forces.
“I was fortunate that they went easy on me,” a smiling Parent said of the Rangers.
Parent was asked what he was thinking as Duguay — who drew whistles when introduced, just as in old times — came in on a breakaway.
“I said, ‘Lord, save me one more time,’ and he did,” Parent said.
Said Duguay: “I wasn’t going to pick the top corner on him.”
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