Rangers rally to beat Flyers 3-2 in Winter Classic

His finest moment came in the waning moments when he stoned Briere with his pads when the All-Star center tried to sneak it through his legs.

With some fans paying six figures a seat on the secondary market, the stadium was full to the end.

For a brief moment in the second, Flyers fans thought they’d see a winner.

Schenn, a prized rookie sent over from Los Angeles in the Mike Richards deal over the summer, scored his first midway through the second period, setting off the Liberty Bell in right field normally reserved for Phillies home runs.

Giroux showed a national audience how he’s blossomed into an MVP candidate with a backhander 1:55 later for his 18th goal and a 2-0 lead. But the Flyers couldn’t beat Lundqvist again.

That didn’t stop the diehards, though, from being entertained by hometown band, The Roots, and national anthem singer Patti LaBelle.

The trash-can fires gave the game a “Rocky” feel and the pitchers’ mound and home plate area were left uncovered. It was 41 degrees when the opening faceoff dropped just after 3 p.m., and temperatures fell over the next three hours. The start time was pushed back two hours to protect the rink from the sun.

New York received a dose of good news long before the final horn. Defenseman Marc Staal made his return to the lineup after a nearly yearlong absence from a concussion.

Staal, who turns 25 in January, has been out all season because of the effects of a concussion sustained in February when he was hit by his brother, Eric, a forward for the Carolina Hurricanes. He has been skating this month and was cleared for light contact.

Notes: The NHL used 20,000 gallons of water for the rink. … The Flyers played in their second Winter Classic in two years and have lost both. … The Rangers are 3-0 vs. Philadelphia this season.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.