Last week, I mentioned that the second episode of HBO’s 24/7 Road to the Winter Classic was lacking in game footage and it’s almost as if the producers heard my cry as episode three delivered and then some. From the beginning we are thrown into the Flyers locker room where head coach Peter Laviolette shows the most emotion he has all series long as his team finds themselves down a goal heading into the third period against the Colorado Avalanche. His mini tirade sparks his team to find the equalizer before falling in a shootout resulting in the team’s second consecutive loss as the team leaves for Dallas hoping to turn their fortune.

The Rangers first appear during their family skate at Bryant Park before attending a ugly Christmas sweater party where Michael Del Zotto debuted a sweater featuring some rather risqué reindeers. Luckily, no children were in attendance. Later, the team is shown pummeling my beloved Devils which fortunately lasted only a minute or so.

Like most teams in the NHL, it is customary among the Rangers to pass out a special item for the MVP of the game. The Rangers being from New York and all chose to pass out a fedora which was most likely donated by Sean Avery. For this win, Henrik Lundqvist earned the honors and I couldn’t’ help but wonder whether he too keeps a spare in case he doesn’t get the MVP after each game.

Claude Giroux returned to the Flyers line-up against Dallas after battling a concussion he received in the first episode and has himself quite the return notching a goal and three assists. During the game he chats with Stars center Steve Ott who encouraged the younger Giroux to check his stats on NHL.com because he’s really good at face-offs. Ott would go onto lose the ensuing draw and later tell Laviolette to show some “fucking class” as the coach refused to wait for the Stars to leave the ice resulting in a shove captured by the cameras.

Laviolette later has a case of amnesia when confronted about the incident and choses to focus on the win instead. Prior to the game against the Rangers, Laviolette and his staff find themselves watching the Ott incident on TV at a bar which summarized how big a deal it was to the hockey world despite the coach’s attempt to play it down.

When the Flyers finally meet the Rangers at MSG it’s pretty much gold as far as the chirping between players goes. From Brad Richards telling Tom Sestito that his one day in the NHL is like fantasy camp to Mike Rupp telling former Ranger Jody Shelly he’s “fucking irrelevant out here” to my favorite chirp simple “fuck you Lundqvist”

It’s really what a rivalry is all about, nonstop shit talk. While it didn’t capture the pre ‘Classic’ showdown like last year with the Caps and Pens, it was easily the highlight of the show.

Afterwards we are finally given our moment of Byrz, as the goalie is shown celebrating Christmas with his family and hot blonde girl husky, Milya. Bryzgalov also divulges the many faces he has starting with his home face, his public face, his game face, his off-day face, and his HBO face. No matter how many times you read that over it won’t make any sense. Guy is simply out there.

Next week the two teams finally meet in the Winter Classic as the show comes to its conclusion. Hopefully HBO will have its best for last.

- Spartak