Winter Classic 2012 Score: Claude Giroux Scores, But Mike Rupp Cuts Flyers Lead In Half

Read More: Claude Giroux (RW - PHI), Brayden Schenn (C - PHI), New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers

The 2012 NHL Winter Classic was a defensive battle for a while there, and then, all the sudden, goals for everybody. Brayden Schenn kicked off the scoring for the Philadelphia Flyers, netting his first NHL goal at the 12:26 mark of the second period. Then, just under two minutes later, Claude Giroux made it 2-0 for the home team on this beauty.

Giroux, the NHL's top scorer, hadn't scored a single point against the Rangers in two games this season, and that was a major key for the Flyers coming in. But just 30 seconds after Giroux's goal, Mike Rupp made it as irrelevant as Jody Shelley with a tally of his own.

It's 2-1 in favor of the Flyers, and it's evident that the game has opened up considerably since the start, when the teams were still just feeling each other out. We'd bet the final score doesn't end up 3-1.

For more on this year's Winter Classic, head over to SB Nation's Rangers blog Blueshirt Banter and Flyers blog Broad Street Hockey. For everything Winter Classic in the build-up to the game, head over to our NHL Winter Classic StoryStream.