Things got chippy at the very end of the Winter Classic. Sidney Crosby responded to some sort of chicanery by whacking Caps defenseman John Carlson. Alex Ovechkin and Chris Kunitz exchanged pleasantries with just .6 left on the clock as a scrum ensued before the puck was dropped for a final faceoff. Even on the bigger stage and with all the hype surrounding it, you can’t say this game lacked the juice this rivalry has become known for. It was there for all to see - and ended with both teams skating off the ice without a postgame handshake, which has been part of previous Winter Classics.

“There was no less bite. We were supposed to shake hands at the end, but I guess they didn’t want to shake hands with us,” said Caps forward Jason Chimera. “I don’t think we’d want to shake hands either if we lose. It didn’t lose any bite. I played in Edmonton [in the 2003 outdoor Heritage Classic] and there was no hitting at all because it was too damn cold to hit anybody. But [tonight] there was hitting, there was everything – good goals, good saves. It was good night overall and a fun night for hockey.”

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