A look back at the 2008 Winter Classic
Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller leads his team to the bench during the NHL's inaugural Winter Classic outdoor hockey game on Jan. 1, 2008, at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park.
Harry Scull Jr./News file photo
Jon Williams from Clarence, left, and Mike Bognar of Buffalo do some pregame bonding in the upper deck during the singing of u201cGod Bless Americau201d before the Winter Classic on Jan. 1, 2008, at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park.
Harry Scull Jr./News file photo
The Buffalo Sabres get used to the wide-open vista of Ralph Wilson Stadium on Dec. 31, 2007, as they get some practice time on the newly made ice rink for the NHL's Winter Classic outdoor game with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Mark Mulville/News file photo
Spectators, suitably bundled in warm winter clothing, take in the Buffalo Sabresu2019 practice session on Dec. 31, 2007, at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
Mark Mulville/News file photo
From left: Lucy Warmbrodt, 17, Justin Kozlowski, 15, Jacob Jankowski, 15, and Adam Woelfle, 17, all of Dunkirk, cheer for the Buffalo Sabres during their game against the Pittsburgh Penguins while watching the NHL's Winter Classic 2008 game on a large screen with a few thousand friends at HSBC Arena on Jan. 1, 2008.
News file photo
Shannon Blesy, 11, of Springville, holds a sign to support the Buffalo Sabres while watching the Winter Classic game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on a large screen at HSBC Arena.
News file photo
Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff watches a replay during the game.
Harry Scull Jr./News file photo
Buffalo's Paul Gaustad collides with Pittsburgh's Jeff Taffe.
Harry Scull Jr./News file photo
Buffalo's Maxim Afinogenov looks for the puck.
Harry Scull Jr./News file photo
Buffalo's Jochen Hecht moves the puck up the ice during the game.
Harry Scull Jr./News file photo
Buffalo's Brian Campbell celebrates his goal with his teammates.
Harry Scull Jr./News file photo
Buffalo's Maxim Afinogenov goes hard to the corner with Penguins player Rob Scuderi during the second period.
Mark Mulville/News file photo
Dmitri Kalinin is seen during the national anthem.
Mark Mulville/News file photo
Buffalo's Paul Gaustad levels Penguins player Darryl Sydor during the second period.
Mark Mulville/News file photo
Sabres players Tim Connolly and Brian Campbell celebrate their first goal during the second period of the Winter Classic.
Mark Mulville/News file photo
Sabres players celebrate after scoring a goal.
Mark Mulville/News file photo
Buffalo's Paul Gaustad breaks up a pass to Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin during the third period.
Mark Mulville/News file photo
Penguins goalie Ty Conklin shoots the puck away from Jochen Hecht during the second period.
Mark Mulville/News file photo
Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller makes a save on Penguins star Sidney Crosby during the third period of the Winter Classic.
Mark Mulville/News file photo
Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby celebrates his game-winning goal with Ryan Malone and Jordan Staal.
Mark Mulville/News file photo
Penguins center Sidney Crosby puts his game winning-goal past Ryan Miller during the shootout.
Mark Mulville/News file photo
Sidney Crosby celebrates his game-winning goal.
Mark Mulville/News file photo
Kids play on the side rink before the start of the Winter Classic at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
Mark Mulville/News file photo
Ryan Miller makes a save in the first period.
James P. McCoy/News file photo
Buffalo's Maxium Afinogenov gets stopped by Ty Conklin in overtime.
James P. McCoy/News file photo
Fixing the ice was an issue at the first Winter Classic.
James P. McCoy/News file photo
Officials work on the bad ice in the third period.
James P. McCoy/News file photo
Buffalo's Paul Gaustad takes a shot at goalie Ty Conklin in the third period.
James P. McCoy/News file photo
Buffalo goalie Ryan Miller can't stop Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby from scoring the game-winning goal.
James P. McCoy/News file photo
Buffalo's Maxium Afinogenov puts a shot on Pittsburgh's Ty Conklin with Ryan Whitney in the mix in the first period.
James P. McCoy/News file photo
Sabres player Drew Stafford has his skates fitted with a cover after warmups.
Mark Mulville/News file photo
Buffalo's Brian Campbell checks Penguins player Adam Hall during the first period.
Mark Mulville/News file photo
Brian Campbell keeps the puck from Petr Sykora during the first period.
Mark Mulville/News file photo
Sidney Crosby splits Sabres players Jochen Hecht (55), Toni Lydman (5) and Henrik Tallinder (10) during the first period.
Mark Mulville/News file photo
Sidney Crosby gets between Sabres players Jason Pominville and Tim Connolly during the first period.
Mark Mulville/News file photo
Ryan Miller is seen on the bench during a timeout in the first period.
Mark Mulville/News file photo
Sabres defenseman Toni Lydman moves the puck during the first period.
Mark Mulville/News file photo
Nathan Paetsch perches on the bench during a timeout.
Mark Mulville/News file photo
Ryan Miller has the snow cleared from the front of his net during the first period.
Mark Mulville/News file photo
Ryan Miller makes a save on Penguins players Georges Laraque and Erik Christensen during the first period.
Mark Mulville/News file photo
Ryan Miller makes a save during the first period of the Winter Classic.
Mark Mulville/News file photo
Ryan Miller can't stop the Penguins from scoring in the first period.
Mark Mulville/News file photo
Penguins players celebrate their first goal during the first period of the Winter Classic.
Mark Mulville/News file photo
Sabres defenseman Toni Lydman is seen during the national anthem.
Mark Mulville/News file photo
Mike Milbury skates with kids on the side rink before the start of the Winter Classic.
Mark Mulville/News file photo
The back of Sabres goalie Ryan Miller.
Mark Mulville/News file photo
Dan Craig, NHL Facilities Operation Manager, talks on his cellphone checking the weather as Brian Drabek, ice manager for HSBC Arena, listens.
Harry Scull Jr./News file photo
Brian Drabek, ice manager for HSBC Arena, checks the ice surface prior to the NHL's inaugural Winter Classic outdoor hockey game on Jan. 1, 2008.
Harry Scull Jr./News file photo
Fans tailgate in the parking lots before the Winter Classic.
James P. McCoy/News file photo
Fans tailgate in the parking lots before the Winter Classic.
James P. McCoy/News file photo
Jennilee Szalda of West Seneca and Patti Culliton of Jamestown tailgate in the parking lots before the game between the Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins.
James P. McCoy/News file photo
Sidney Crosby during the first period of the Winter Classic.
Mark Mulville/News file photo
Fans tailgate in the parking lots before the Winter Classic.
James P. McCoy/News file photo
Fans tailgate in the parking lots before the Winter Classic.
James P. McCoy/News file photo
Fans tailgate in the parking lots before the Winter Classic.
James P. McCoy/News file photo
Fans tailgate in the parking lots before the Winter Classic.
James P. McCoy/News file photo
Fans tailgate in the parking lots before the Winter Classic.
James P. McCoy/News file photo
Fans tailgate in the parking lots before the Winter Classic.
James P. McCoy/News file photo
Fans tailgate in the parking lots before the Winter Classic.
James P. McCoy/News file photo
An overview of the Winter Classic game featuring the Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins at Ralph Wilson Stadium on Jan. 1, 2008.
James P. McCoy/News file photo
Fans in the stands at the Winter Classic.
James P. McCoy/News file photo
The Buffalo bench during the Winter Classic.
James P. McCoy/News file photo
A shot in the stands at the Winter Classic.
James P. McCoy/News file photo
Fans in the stands during the second period of the Winter Classic.
James P. McCoy/News file photo
Officials work to fix the ice surface in the first period.
James P. McCoy/News file photo
Winter Classic fans Mary Heiermann, left, and Lisa Wallace, both of Rochester, tailgate at a satellite lot outside Ralph Wilson Stadium.
John Hickey/News file photo
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman before the start of the Winter Classic.
Mark Mulville/News file photo
Sabres owner Tom Golisano enters the playing area before the start of the Winter Classic.
Mark Mulville/News file photo
Winter Classic fans are seen at a tailgate party near Ralph Wilson Stadium.
John Hickey/News file photo
Winter Classic fans tailgate outside Ralph Wilson Stadium.
John Hickey/News file photo
Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby scores on Ryan Miller in the shootout at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
James P. McCoy/News file photo
Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier talks with an unidentified person before the start of the Winter Classic.
Mark Mulville/News file photo
Buffalo's Nathan Paetsch tries to stop Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby.
Harry Scull Jr./News file photo
Goaltender Ryan Miller pauses during ice repairs.
Harry Scull Jr./News file photo
Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff and his team await the start of the shootout.
Harry Scull Jr./News file photo
Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff and his team await the start of the shootout.
Harry Scull Jr./News file photo
Buffalo's Ales Kotalik is congratulated after scoring in the shootout.
Harry Scull Jr./News file photo
Derek Roy, reaches for a puck during the Winter Classic.
Harry Scull Jr./News file photo
Juno award winner Sam Roberts performs after the second period during the Winter Classic outdoor hockey game between the Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins on Jan. 1, 2008, at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park.
Harry Scull Jr./News file photo
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Friday, January 12, 2018
From the setting up of the outdoor rink in the Ralph to the action on the ice, take a look back at the NHL's first outdoor matchup featuring the Buffalo Sabres and the Pittsburgh Penguins, held in Buffalo on Jan. 1, 2008, at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park.
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