Capitals’ Eric Fehr talks to News4’s Jason Pugh and Dianna Russini about his first goal of the 2015 Winter Classic.
The NHL’s marquee regular season event was a true classic, with the Washington Capitals scoring the winning goal in the final seconds of regulation Thursday.
Forward Troy Brouwer proved to be the hero of the 2015 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic, putting the Capitals ahead of the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 with just 12.9 seconds left. Fans celebrated by throwing their seat cushions in the air.
Both teams demonstrated excellent execution and fantastic goal-tending, and the game was played at an exciting pace in front of 42,832 fans in attendance at Nationals Park.
But, minutes later, Patrick Sharp scored for the Blackhawks on a power play.
Brandon Saad evened the score early in the second period when Fehr lost track of him before Jonathan Toews found him with the puck.
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The Caps' Troy Brouwer celebrates following his game-winning third period goal against the Chicago Blackhawks in 2015 NHL Winter Classic at Nationals Park. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
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Members of the Washington Capitals salute fans after defeating the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 to win the 2015 NHL Winter Classic at Nationals Park. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
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Capitals teammates celebrate with Troy Brouwer following his game winning goal during the third period of the 2015 NHL Winter Classic at Nationals Park on January 1, 2015. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
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Marcus Kruger of the Chicago Blackhawks fights with the Caps' Troy Brouwer during the second period of the 2015 NHL Winter Classic at Nationals Park. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
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A fan watches as the game -- just moments before the Caps' last-minute goal. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
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The Caps' Troy Brouwer defends against the drive of Blackhawk Patrick Kane. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
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The Caps' Braden Holtby holds the puck during the second period of the 2015 NHL Winter Classic against the Chicago Blackhawks at Nationals Park. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
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Fans cheer as the Chicago Blackhawks take on the Washington Capitals in the 2015 NHL Winter Classic at Nationals Park. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
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Nicklas Backstrom of the Washington Capitals attempts to block the shot of Duncan Keith of the Chicago Blackhawks in the second period of the 2015 NHL Winter Classic at Nationals Park. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
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Duncan Keith of the Chicago Blackhawks breaks his stick during the second period of the 2015 NHL Winter Classic against the Washington Capitals at Nationals Park . (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
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The Caps' Alex Ovechkin shoots against Goalie Corey Crawford of the Chicago Blackhawks during the second period of the 2015 NHL Winter Classic at Nationals Park. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
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Blackhawks and Capitals fight during the second period of the 2015 NHL Winter Classic at Nationals Park. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
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The Caps' Alex Ovechkin celebrates after scoring in the first period of the 2015 NHL Winter Classic against the Chicago Blackhawks at Nationals Park. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
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The Caps' Eric Fehr celebrates with teammates following his first-period goal against the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2015 NHL Winter Classic at Nationals Park. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
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Washington Capitals right wing Eric Fehr, center Brooks Laich and others celebrate Fehr's goal in the first period of the Winter Classic against the Chicago Blackhawks at Nationals Park. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
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Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks plays plays the puck in the corner during the first period of the the 2015 NHL Winter Classic against the Capitals at Nationals Park. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
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Patrick Sharp of the Chicago Blackhawks brings the puck up ice during the first period of the the 2015 NHL Winter Classic against the Capitals at Nationals Park. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
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Nate Schmidt of the Washington Capitals wears sunglasses while warming up before the 2015 NHL Winter Classic against the Chicago Blackhawks at Nationals Park. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
In the end, though, it was the former Blackhawk Brouwer who decided the game. His power play goal followed a borderline hooking call on Toews with 1:13 left. Saad then slashed Ovechkin's stick in the left circle, and as Ovechkin raised his hands to make sure the officials saw the penalty, Brouwer, who was trailing, took the puck and scored.
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News4’s Jason Pugh spoke to Troy Brouwer about his Winter Classic-winning goal for the Washington Capitals.
Brouwer's father, Don, who suffered a stroke in 2010, was in attendance, seeing his son play in D.C. for the first time.
The game started on time Thursday afternoon despite concerns the sunny day could hamper players at Nationals Park. Shadows covered the ice for the start of the second period.
To eliminate any advantage sun glare might create, the teams switched ends 10 minutes into the first period. Sharp then beat Caps goalie Braden Holtby with a sun-to-shade slapshot for Chicago's first score.
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Fans take a photo before the start of the 2015 NHL Winter Classic between the Washington Capitals and Chicago Blackhawks at Nationals Park on Jan. 1, 2015 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
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Seat cushions are shown before the start of the 2015 NHL Winter Classic between the Washington Capitals and Chicago Blackhawks at Nationals Park on Jan. 1, 2015 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
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Fans wait to purchase merchandise before the start of the 2015 NHL Winter Classic between the Washington Capitals and Chicago Blackhawks on Jan. 1, 2015 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
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Fans wait to enter Nationals Park before the start of the 2015 NHL Winter Classic between the Washington Capitals and Chicago Blackhawks on Jan. 1, 2015 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
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Fans wait to enter Nationals Park before the start of the 2015 NHL Winter Classic between the Washington Capitals and Chicago Blackhawks on Jan. 1, 2015 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
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Fans wait to purchase merchandise before the start of the 2015 NHL Winter Classic between the Washington Capitals and Chicago Blackhawks at Natioinals Park on Jan. 1, 2015 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
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The national anthem is performed before the 2015 NHL Winter Classic between the Chicago Blackhawks and Washington Capitals at Nationals Park on Jan. 1, 2015 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
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Billy Idol performs before the start of the 2015 NHL Winter Classic between the Washington Capitals and Chicago Blackhawks at Nationals Park on Jan. 1, 2015 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
Players used eye black to fight off the glare, while Capitals defenseman Karl Alzner donned sunglasses.
Ovechkin praised the condition of the ice after the first period.
Jason Pugh gets reaction from Washington Capitals defenseman Mike Green about winning the Winter Classic at Nationals Park.
Fehr might like to play outdoors more often. Though he averages about eight goals per season, he previously scored two when the Capitals played in the 2011 Winter Classic in Pittsburgh.
After a strong December (8-2-3), the Capitals improved to 19-11-7 on the season. The Blackhawks, the second-best team in the NHL, dropped to 25-11-2.
News4’s Kristin Wright spent the day with Washington Capitals fans at the 2015 Winter Classic at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.
It was also a nice day for some live music. Billy Idol performed before the game and Gavin DeGraw sang between the first and second periods. During the break before the third period, Lee Greenwood sang his classic ode to patriotism, "God Bless the U.S.A."
