Compare and Contrast.

On the eve of the Heritage Classic, I started to be curious. What will althe hockey media be talking about on Monday morning? Will they be comparing ratings of the game, or will they be talking about which ice surface was better? Or will the discussion be about a more competitive game, or better outdoor hockey weather?

The truth is, as much as the analyst might be comparing the two early Monday morning, there is no similarities between the two besides the fact they are both outdoor hockey games.

The ratings will more than likely be better for the Heritage classic than they were for the Winter Classic. If your reading this, you probably think I am crazy, and don't know what I'm talking about. How could ratings for a game in the middle of Northwestern Canada get better rankings than a game in Pittsburgh between hockeys two brightest stars? The answer is that the Heritage Classic will be broadcast throughout Canada on TSN. Canada is much more serious about their hockey than we are in America, and almost all of the country will be tuned in tomorrow night, as this is there moment to shine. Especially when you consider the fact a Canadian team has not reached the Stanley Cup Finals in 6 years, and has not lifted the Cup in 19 years.

A guaranteed fact is that you will hear about how the ice surface was much better for the Heritage Classic than it was for the Winter Classic, even though the same people created the ice surfaces. The fore casted weather for faceoff tomorrow night in Calgary is 28 degrees with an 80% chance of snow. The fore casted weather for faceoff in Pittsburgh was 40 degrees, with a 70% chance of rain. Having a "Classic Game" in a city that has a better chance of colder temperatures and snowy conditions makes the focus shift more from the ice, and more towards the game. This is a risk that the NHL took having the game in Pittsburgh, and even though the rain held off for most of the game, the ice still got bad at some points. The NHL will learn from this, and be better equipped to handle it in the future.

On a closing thought, even though the star power in tomorrow nights game lacked what the Winter Classic had, Canada will gladly appreciate seeing Cammalari against Iginla. Of course it isn't Crosby against Ovechkin, but it is their pride and joy, and they will make sure it is done right in hopes of getting another game in Canada next year. It will be exciting to watch, and a competitive game.