Sidney Crosby (click to enlarge)It reminded me of playing pond hockey as a kid. From speaking with friends and fans of the game, that feeling was pretty universal and seemed to be what the league was trying to convey. Preliminary TV ratings say it was the highest-rated regular season NHL game in the past decade, but the huge, in-person crowd is the best result of one of the better ideas the NHL has had during Gary Bettman’s tenure.