The Winter Classic was definitely a lot of fun. The Alumni game was awesome, and the whole weekend was truly something to remember. Not to mention the game itself which was fast paced, hard hitting, and had everyone at Citizens Bank Park on the edge of their seats to the very end.
But now the excitement and hype of the Classic is over. The TV cameras are gone, and after all the chaos, the Flyers find themselves with 48 points, good for third in the Eastern Conference and second in the Atlantic division.
Considering how young this team is, I find it very impressive that they were able to keep winning even with a lot of off the ice distractions. Remember that 7 game winning streak? That was in the midst of having the cameras and spotlight of the hockey world on them and the Flyers found a way to get it done. Sure they had their fair share of losses including an ugly loss to the Bruins and two important losses to the Rangers, but the Flyers find themselves in a very good position as they begin life after the Classic.
But even though the distractions may be gone, the injuries and obstacles just keep coming. Jaromir Jagr, who was sidelined for much of the Winter Classic, will be out 7-10 days with a mild left groin strain. The Flyers will have to prove their resilience once again without Jags as they get set to host the Western Conference leading Chicago Blackhawks tomorrow night.
Tomorrow night's game could be a chance for the Flyers to really right the ship. A big win could give the Flyers a confidence boost and put them back on track as they get set for life after the Classic.
And a final thought for fans who are disappointed by the Flyers loss to the Rangers in the Classic: the last time the Flyers lost the Winter Classic, they went to the Stanley Cup. I have no doubt that this team is going to respond after their loss on Monday and I look forward to seeing what the second half of the season brings us.
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