NHL Betting: Penguins Win Snowy Winter Classic in a Shootout

Sidney Crosby had fun in the snow in Buffalo. (AP Images)

It was a good idea at the time.

The NHL started 2008 with the nationally televised Winter Classic, which was supposed to be a bang for hockey. Instead, the outdoor game made the sport and league look amateurish. The elements in Buffalo confounded players and officials, creating a slow, boring game that was eventually won in a shootout.

Sidney Crosby used a junior-hockey move to put the win away as the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Sabres 2-1 at Ralph Wilson Stadium on New Year’s Day. In the thick snow, Crosby used his deke to back in Buffalo goalie Ryan Miller then slid the puck between the pads at the lip of the crease to give the Penguins an upset victory in the first pro hockey game played outdoors in the United States.

The Penguins paid +130 on the puckline (meaning a winning hockey bet of $100 would net $130) and the conditions helped keep the betting total under five goals.

Crosby assisted on the game’s first goal by Colby Armstrong 21 seconds into the opening period. The snow came heavy, though, and combined with the wind to turn the game into a tough-to-watch contest that required numerous stoppages to keep the ice slick.

Brian Campbell scored for Buffalo midway through the second period.

The most interesting part of the game was the crowd, which was the size of an NFL audience. The 71,217 were loud and boisterous throughout, reveling in the unique spectacle.

The first outdoor game was between Edmonton and Montreal in 2003.

For NHL odds throughout 2008, visit the Bodog Sportsbook.