From the Hockey Malnourished to Hockeytown, the Winter Classic is a big deal. Nothing will ever change what a game of old-fashioned outside hockey looks or feels like: the bitter elements, whipping wind and even snow. Last year's Winter Classic was a huge success with Buffalo facing off against Pittsburgh, but it seemed something missing.

While enthralling and riveting, and boasting one of the league's premiere superstars, the game didn't have that nostalgic feel. Buffalo and Pittsburgh are both heavily decorated but don't have anywhere near the rivalry or the history as Original Six rivals do. It only makes sense, then, for the second Winter Classic to build off of the first ones success with a historic rivalry.

Detroit and Chicago have been there from the beginning. They have a 60-year rivalry that spans over 700 games. The New Years Day's match-up will be game number 701. Coming into the season, it didn't look like the game was going to carry the importance as this one does, as Chicago has been relatively unimportant in the last few years. However with the Blackhawks only six points behind the Wings in the Central Division this game literally can have playoff implications.

The team is Led by Goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin, last year's rookie of the year Patrick Kane and a favorite for this year's rookie of the year Kris Versteeg. They have taken the Blackhawks from irrelevant last year to a powerhouse this year. Winning nine out of the last ten Chicago is coming into the Classic as one of the hottest teams around.

The Red Wings meanwhile have picked up right where they left off from last year. The defending Stanley Cup Champions have shown no signs of a championship hangover. They have continued their dominance in the Western Conference only trailing San Jose.

The Wings are not short on talent either, with Marian Hossa, Pavel Datsyuk and Henrick Zetterburg leading the team's furious offensive attack. The team also has a stud goaltender in Ty Conklin who shut out Chicago on Tuesday. Also of note is that Conklin has played in all three of the NHL's outside games -- first with Edmonton, then Pittsburgh, and now Detroit.

There will be no shortage of talent on the ice during the 701^st meeting between these bitter rivals.

In Detroit for winter break, I am surrounded by the buzz for the Classic. With the city decimated by a struggling economy and an over-defeated football team, residents have turned to the Winter Classic as the right way to start off the year -- the Red Wings are one of the city's only bright spots.

The throwback sweaters are in every storefront, and almost every newspaper has a picture of Wrigley on its front cover. Many in the media are calling the game a "rivalry renewed", especially after the 4-0 throttling the Wings handed the Hawks at Joe Louis Arena Tuesday.

Detroit Coach Mike Babcock talked about the Classic after Tuesday's game to Michigan sports blog MLive.com.

"This sets up a real good game the next game. Should be a lot of fun for both teams,'' Babcock said. "They got a real good team, lot of talent and tons of speed, so it's fun to play.''

The Detroit Free Press writer Rista Jahnke describes the game as a turning point in the rivalry and something the organizers could have only dreamed about.

"When organizers planned for the Chicago Blackhawks to host the Red Wings in an outdoor game at Wrigley Field, they probably dreamt it would be as the Original Six rivalry regained some heat. And it has."

The radio is also filled with talk about the game almost non-stop, with both 97.1 The Ticket and Sports Radio 1130 excited about the game. Detroiters are calling in every segment to talk about how the Wings will be victorious on New Years Day. While the callers sound optimistic, the voices of the Red Wings' Ken Kal and Paul Woods are skeptical. They have seen the shortcomings and worry about the possibilities of pitfalls as the Wings take the ice, especially on the penalty kill.

This city has never been more excited for a midseason hockey game before in the 19 years I have been alive -- except maybe a game back in the day against the Avalanche. Many view the Winter Classic as a unique chance to not only promote our beloved sport of hockey but also restore some nostalgia to the game.

With the amount of raw talent on both teams the game is for sure going to be a good one. The only thing better than the teams is perhaps the weather report, which is calling for snow showers. This Winter Classic is for sure to be one to remember here in Detroit and likely for the rest of the league as well.