Former Penguins goaltender talks run with Pens and outdoor games
When the Penguins were chosen to participate in the NHL鈥檚 inaugural Winter Classic to be held at Buffalo鈥檚 Ralph Wilson Stadium in 2008, there weren鈥檛 many guys on the roster who knew what to expect. That鈥檚 because those games just didn鈥檛 happen all that often.
The NHL had gone outdoors for games on only four previous occasions and luckily for the Penguins they had a guy in house who had played for the Edmonton Oilers in the Heritage Classic held at Edmonton鈥檚 Commonwealth Stadium on Nov. 11, 2003, goaltender Ty Conklin.
Conklin, who was pressed into duty for the Penguins after Marc-Andre Fleury was shelved with a high-ankle sprain, was the goaltender of record during the Oilers 4-3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens, and that was just the start. He didn鈥檛 know it then, but he was well on his way toward making some NHL history as the first player to appear in three such games.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e all special. I think some guys have played in four or five,鈥� Conklin said when asked about being the first to play in three outdoor games. 鈥淚 feel like everybody who plays in the National Hockey League should get the chance to play in at least one because they are unique and they鈥檙e something that you mark on your schedule every year. You look forward to it. Whether you鈥檙e the away team or the home team there鈥檚 a build up to it.鈥�
There was definitely a big build up to the game in Buffalo and Conklin wasn鈥檛 even in the NHL when the game was announced. He began the 2007-08 season as a member of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and didn鈥檛 join the NHL club until being recalled on an emergency basis on Dec. 7, 2007 after Fleury was injured in a game against the Calgary Flames.
The Fleury situation would have grounded most up-and-coming teams, but Conklin stepped in and went 17-4-5, with a 2.19 GAA and .933 save percentage in 27 games until Fleury could get back. That included an 11-game run between Dec. 20 and Jan. 14 that saw him go 10-0-1, with a 1.51 GAA and .955 save percentage.
Evgeni Malkin did have a breakout season, scoring 47 goals and 106 points, but the Penguins are not likely to have maintained their playoff position, which led to a run to the Stanley Cup Final, without Conklin鈥檚 contributions.
鈥淚t was something exciting to be a part of,鈥� Conklin said. 鈥淥n a personal level, I鈥檇 had a couple of tough years and it got me back in the league and got me playing well. I got the opportunity to play a lot of hockey. We did have quite a bit of success and certainly it was an exciting run to the Stanley Cup Finals. I was really fortunate to be on a lot of good teams and play with a lot of good players and certainly Pittsburgh was definitely one of them. It was a fun run there for sure.鈥�
One of the highlights of his run in Pittsburgh was being able to suit up for the Winter Classic. Conklin backstopped the Penguins to a 2-1 shootout victory and he sounded reflective in discussing the final moments 鈥� Sidney Crosby鈥檚 shootout game winner against Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller.
鈥淭hey couldn鈥檛 have scripted it any better,鈥� he said. 鈥淎t the time Ryan Miller was as good as anybody and playing as good as anybody. You had two of the game鈥檚 top players going against each other. I don鈥檛 know that you could ask for a better ending.鈥�
The Winter Classic was a rousing success and the NHL has put on outdoor games ever since. The Penguins Stadium Series game on Saturday will mark the 20th outdoor affair since that snowy day in Buffalo.
Conklin, who still holds the Penguins鈥� single-season record for save percentage with a mark of .923, used that spark in Pittsburgh to ignite his career. He played four more seasons in the league for the Detroit Red Wings and St. Louis Blues and got to play in his third outdoor game, the 2009 Winter Classic between the Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks played in Wrigley Field.
Again an injury opened the door for him, as regular Red Wings starter Chris Osgood was out with a sore groin. Conklin won the game 6-4, pushing his all-time record in those games to 2-1.
It鈥檚 not surprising that he shined in those settings. He admitted to playing a lot of outdoor hockey when he was growing up in Anchorage, Alaska. What was a surprise, at least in Conklin鈥檚 view, was that it took the league five years to host another game after the success of that 2003 Heritage Classic. He didn鈥檛 think it would start a trend, but he did think they鈥檇 do it again sooner.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know if they had some grand plans when they did that first one,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 sure the success of that one, the Edmonton one, there was a ton of build up to it and obviously it was a big success regardless of how cold it was. Holy cow, it was cold, too. But, I鈥檓 surprised it took five years for as successful as that one was.鈥�
Having played in three of these games, Conklin is able to offer some perspective. He doesn鈥檛 have a favorite, but if he were forced to choose, it would be the game he played with the Penguins.
鈥淭he whole atmosphere surrounding the game was pretty special,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t was definitely a neat game.鈥�
That鈥檚 the thing. These games are really 鈥榥eat鈥� for all involved, especially the players. While some greet the announcements of outdoor games with shaking heads and grumbling about another outdoor game, guys like Conklin find them to be unique 鈥� throwback to simpler times and a chance to experience something a little different in each.
鈥淚n Edmonton it was cold, in Pittsburgh [game played in Buffalo], everybody will remember it was like a snow globe game,鈥� he said. 鈥淎s far as conditions-wise, the game in Chicago, [between] Detroit and Chicago, was the best of the three that I played in. They all have their unique things. I feel very fortunate to have played in three games.鈥�
The outdoor games definitely have their detractors. We鈥檝e heard some of them come out of the woodwork this week during the run up to the Stadium Series game, especially because of the record high temperatures in Pittsburgh.
The complaints range from 鈥榯here are too many of these games,鈥� to 鈥榯he Metropolitan division points are too important and shouldn鈥檛 be decided under those conditions,鈥� to 鈥榞uys are going to get hurt when the ice melts in the rain.鈥� Rest assured the league will continue with their outdoor games and they鈥檒l ensure the continuity of the ice and the safety of the players.
Conklin wasn鈥檛 ready to say there are too many of the games, but he was quick to point out that the league will keep them going as long as tickets are selling, which they are to the tune of 60,000-plus for the game on Saturday.
鈥淚t seems like they sell the seats every game and the quality of play is still pretty high. I don鈥檛 know, I guess maybe the newness of it has worn off just a little bit but they鈥檙e still exciting and people still look forward to them. So, no I don鈥檛 know if I necessarily subscribe to that 鈥榯oo much of a good thing鈥� as far as the outdoor games go.鈥�
Conklin finished his NHL career with 215 games played, posting a 96-67-4-17 record for the Oilers, Sabres, Penguins, Red Wings, Blues, and Columbus Blue Jackets with a 2.69 GAA and .906 save percentage. He is currently serving as the goaltending development coach for the St. Louis Blues.