New York Rangers center Mike Rupp entered the 2012 Winter Classic with one goal all season. On one of the game's biggest stages, outside and under the elements at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Monday evening, Rupp notched two more scores, allowing the Rangers to overcome a 2-0 deficit and outlast the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2.
Rupp's teammate Brad Richards slammed home a rebound for the game-winner at 5:21 of the third period, and the Rangers held on when goaltender Henrik Lundqvist stoned a Danny Briere penalty shot with 19.6 seconds left.
Lundqvist turned away 33 shots.
After a period and a half of scoreless play, the Flyers used two goals in fewer than two minutes to move to a 2-0 lead. Brayden Schenn scored the first goal of his career at 12:26 of the second period and teammate Claude Giroux followed with his own tally 1:55 later.
But Rupp answered just 30 seconds after, then added his second goal of the game at 2:41 of the third period. Richards added the game-winner three minutes later and the Rangers narrowly escaped a late Flyers threat.
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