CSN to air Blackhawks, Red Wings Winter Classic game tonight

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An aerial view of Wrigley Field as the Blackhawks prepared to face the Red Wings in the 2009 NHL Winter Classic. (USPRESSWIRE)

NINA FALCONE


Comcast SportsNet will be re-airing Blackhawks Classics until the NHL lockout comes to an end. Tune in tonight at 7:00 p.m. to catch the 2009 Winter Classic game between the Blackhawks and Red Wings at Wrigley Field.

It was an early afternoon at Wrigley and over 40,000 fans packed the Friendly Confines, but this time, the seats were filled in the dead of winter and the outfield was covered with a thick sheet of ice. For the first time in its history, Wrigley Field was home to an outdoor skating rink as the Blackhawks faced off against the defending Stanley Cup champion Red Wings in the 2009 NHL Winter Classic.




What to watch for

Cubs and Blackhawks legends came together for the historical event as Billy Williams, Fergie Jenkins and Ryne Sandberg joined Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita and Denis Savard at the game to perform their own version of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game", changing a few words to make the song more hockey-friendly.

The tune of course came after the first memorable performances of the night, which included Jim Cornelison and Scott Newlands performing the Star-Spangled Banner and O Canada.

Kris Versteeg, Martin Havlat, Ben Eager and Duncan Keith all found the back of the net during the outdoor game, but a strong run from the Red Wingers in the second and third periods resulted in 6-4 victory for Detroit.

Remembering the 2008-09 season

• Martin Havlat led the Blackhawks with 77 points.
• Jonathan Toews had 34 goals, still a career-high.
• Patrick Sharp had scored more than 30 goals in a season three times in his NHL career.
• Kris Versteeg was named to the 2008-09 NHL All-Rookie Team.
• Dave Bolland recorded 47 points, still a career-high.
  
• The Blackhawks had a franchise-record 9-game winning streak in December, 2008.
• The Blackhawks' 2009 playoff appearance was their first since 2002.