2014 Year in Review: January Edition

2014 Winter Classic

Jan 1, 2014; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; A general view in the first period during the 2014 Winter Classic hockey game between the Detroit Red Wings and the Toronto Maple Leafs at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

We start off our countdown with January 1st, 2014 where the NHL held their annual Winter Classic with this year’s matchup pitting the Toronto Maple Leafs facing off against the Detroit Red Wings at the Big House in Michigan. Detroit entered their first season back in the Eastern Conference after the realignment before the 2013-2014 season, and their matchup against the Maple Leafs was a must see game for any hockey fan in the area. This game was attended by over 100,000 people, the most ever for a Winter Classic since its inception in 2008. Both teams played a well balanced game entering the third period tied at 1-1, in the third it was Maple Leafs center Tyler Bozak who gave the Leafs the early third period lead and it looked like the Leafs would steal one from Detroit. But with 6 minutes left in the game Red Wings left winger Justin Abdelkader tied it up for the home town team, and sent this one into overtime and eventually a shootout. The shootout lasted 6 rounds before Tyler Bozak once again beat Jimmy Howard and captured a win for the Maple Leafs.