Inside the Flyers: Jagr not thrilled to be playing outdoors

Most of the Flyers have embraced the idea of playing the New York Rangers outdoors on Monday afternoon in the fifth annual Winter Classic, this one at Citizens Bank Park.

Jaromir Jagr isn't one of them.

Oh, the veteran right winger thinks it'll be wonderful for the fans in the ballpark and the four million or five million TV viewers, and he understands why the market-savvy NHL puts together the overhyped spectacle each January.

But . . .

"You know what, it's so funny to me that everybody is so happy here to play outside, but when I was a kid I played outside all the time and I was so happy to play inside," he said the other day, laughing. "I may be the only guy upset about it."

Jagr paused.

"When you play in Russia, most of the arenas are outside. Soooo cold. Trust me, it's a lot better to be inside."

Is he curious to play his first professional game outdoors?

"I don't think the game is going to be that good," he said. "The ice isn't going to be that good. . . . But it's kind of special because of the fans. That's what's special, no question about it."

Jagr's teammates, especially the ones who have not played outdoors since their youth, can't wait to skate at Citizens Bank Park.

"I'm kind of getting chills," said winger Matt Read, who is the NHL's second-leading scorer among rookies with 12 goals.

"It's going to be awesome. So many guys have friends and family in town, so it's an exciting time," said winger Wayne Simmonds, who will have his girlfriend and other friends and relatives at the game.

"I can't wait to step on the ice," winger Jakub Voracek said. "It's going to be different, but it's going to be fun. I haven't played outside since I was 9 or 10."

Read acknowledged it may be difficult to harness his emotions at the beginning of the game.

"I'm sure in warm-ups and maybe the first couple shifts, you'll be gripping the stick maybe a little tighter," he said. ". . . It's like your first NHL game. For me, it'll be nerve-racking the first couple shifts, but hopefully you can loosen up after that and just play your game."

Claude Giroux, the smooth-skating center who has become an early MVP candidate, said playing in front of the hometown fans - although New York will be well-represented - makes this game more exciting than the Winter Classic at Fenway Park two years ago.

"You don't get a lot of chances to play in these types of games, so you've got to make sure you enjoy it," he said.

Coach Peter Laviolette, who refused to say whether slumping Ilya Bryzgalov or sizzling Sergei Bobrovsky will be his starting goalie, is looking forward to Sunday's 9 a.m. practice at Citizens Bank Park, the Flyers' first at the ballyard.

"Getting in there a day early will really help," Laviolette said. "Walking out of the tunnel and taking it all in for the first time. . . . Getting in and getting our feet wet with regard to the building and routes and what it feels like on the ice and the boards is all a part of it."

Unlike Jagr, Laviolette - whose intensity in HBO's 24/7 has some folks comparing him to former Eagles coach Dick Vermeil - is getting an extra kick out of the Classic.

"Am I excited? Is everybody excited? I don't know how you can't be excited about a game like this," he said.