In this edition of “Remember When,” we turn back the clock to January 1st, 2018, where JT Miller‘s Winter Classic OT winner provided one of the last good moments of that season, as well as one last big moment for the previous Rangers core of players. The atmosphere and anticipation on New Year’s Day in 2018, as 41,821 fans packed Citi Field for the Winter Classic despite the bitter cold, made this one of 82 feel like so much more.
Outdoor games may have lost some novelty due to their frequency since then, but they still hold special meaning for the players. The outcome can shape how the experience is remembered.
That’s why the Rangers’ celebration was pure joy when J.T. Miller buried a power-play goal in overtime, just beyond first base, sealing a 3-2 victory. It was a moment they’d always cherish as would the numerous fans who made the trek out to Queens in the biting cold.
The sold-out crowd erupted in the Rangers’ goal song as the “road” team struck twice in the first period—Paul Carey, stationed in David Wright’s Mets clubhouse stall, netted the first, followed by Michael Grabner’s team-leading 18th after Kevin Hayes’ spin-o-rama bank off Robin Lehner found his stick.
The blinding sun made visibility tough early, and while the ice was both fast and choppy, the Rangers handled it well—until penalties stalled their momentum. Buffalo capitalized, scoring 56 seconds into the second period on a power play, then again 27 seconds into the third to tie it up.
From that point on, the margin for error was razor-thin. The Rangers-heavy crowd, having braved the brutal cold, hoped their team wouldn’t leave them disappointed. Miller ensured they didn’t, backing up his words after a frustrating loss in Detroit by delivering when it mattered most.
Here’s a POV of the goal from someone’s seat at Citi Field.
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