The New York Rangers had played 36 games without Marc Staal. Game 37 marked his long-awaited return in the Winter Classic.
PHILADELPHIA — Marc Staal had been around the New York Rangers for 86 days. But he hadn’t actually been a Ranger until the 87th.
Staal made his 2011-12 season debut yesterday after missing the Rangers’ first 36 games with post-concussion symptoms. John Tortorella made the announcement before the game.
Staal played 12 minutes, 41 seconds alongside Stu Bickel and said his "stomach was churning." Asked to describe how he was feeling after the Rangers' victory, Staal said: “I think once I calmed down and had a good sleep, I just went out and reacted.”
Staal had been skating with the Rangers for weeks and recently began taking contact in practices. He had reported no ill effects and, along with trainer Jim Ramsay – who agreed with Dr. Robert Cantu’s diagnosis that the defenseman was cleared – told Tortorella on Sunday night that he wanted to play.
“I sat down and asked him, ‘Do you want to play?’ I heard so many different things, and Marc was talking quite a bit, (so) I said, ‘Staalzie, I don’t care about anyone else’s opinion. Are you ready to play?’ ” Tortorella said before the game. “He (said he) was, so he’s playing.”
Staal’s return meant that the coach was forced to sit a defenseman on the team that has allowed the second-fewest goals in the NHL. Jeff Woywitka was chosen as the scratch.
“I feel terrible about taking Jeff out,” Tortorella said. “He’s in that lineup ready to play the game right up until the last minute after the meal. I don’t feel great about that but he was terrific when I talked to him. He understands if Marc Staal says yes, he’s going to play.”
Jagr's mysterious injury
While the Rangers saw a star return the Flyers lost one, as Jaromir Jagr played only 7:09 Monday.
Jagr did not skate a shift in the third period. He finished with a hit and a shot on goal, a first-period semi-breakaway attempt that Henrik Lundqvist turned away.
Peter Laviolette would not divulge Jagr’s injury after the game – he pointedly told a reporter to talk to Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren regarding injuries – but Jagr was quoted on the Flyers' official site as having said he “sprained” his “leg” in Philadelphia’s 4-2 win over Pittsburgh on Dec. 29. Jagr thought he re-aggravated the injury on the semi-breakaway.
“Late in the first period it was getting worse,” Jagr explained. “I couldn’t skate 100 percent. I just thought ‘I cannot help my team.’ ”
Looking toward next year
The Winter Classic is the NHL’s showcase event, the league’s opportunity to thump its chest.
Gary Bettman praised the City of Philadelphia, the two teams and their fan bases, the Philadelphia Phillies and league employees for masterminding a successful weekend. That did not stop the commissioner from looking ahead to next year.
“My guess is it will be played in a place we have not been before," Bettman said. "So therefore, in the U.S., you’ve eliminated five locations. Between last year and this year, we have learned a lot about how to move the event, how to make the calls and how to deal with meteorological reports and respond and I think the two-hour delay made for a better game.
“The answer is you can eliminate some of the warmer climates. We are not probably going to go back to where we have been.
“That's all you get from me today.” | 
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