Winter Classic 2015: Another Fehr performance; appearance record for Orpik

At 29, Eric Fehr has had an interesting career, especially when Winter Classic games are played. Thursday, Fehr scored his third goal in the NHL's outdoor showcase.

WATCH: Eric Fehr gives @WashCaps an early lead over Blackhawks #WinterClassic http://t.co/mqS9vS1DsY pic.twitter.com/mzY0yu4iNR

— NHL on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) January 1, 2015

Meanwhile, three players made their fourth appearances in outdoor games. By stepping into action at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., Brad Richards and Daniel Carcillo of the Chicago Blackhawks are most experienced players in the outdoors. The third player, Brooks Orpik of the Washington Capitals, almost didn't make the game-day roster. But a lower-body injury (knee, anyone?) couldn't keep him off the ice.

Eric Fehr (Getty Images)

And in reality, it's Orpik who has appeared in the most Winter Classic games.

Only Matt Niskanen (17:08) has played more than Brooks Orpik's 16:49 in ice time. Orpik has 1 hit, 2 blocks. #WinterClassic #CapitalsTalk

— Chuck Gormley (@ChuckGormleyCSN) January 1, 2015

Fehr is the proverbial NHL journeyman. Since his first NHL appearance in 2005-06 season, he has played 412 regular-season games. Only 35 of them were not with the Caps; he logged those games with the Winnipeg Jets. So scoring three times in five periods of outdoor action is pretty special.

Richard and Carcillo played last year in the New York Rangers' two outdoor games, but neither of them was the Winter Classic. The Rangers played at Yankee Stadium in two of the Stadium Series games last season.

Richards had the game-winning goal in the 2012 Winter Classic for the Rangers against the Philadelphia Flyers. All four of his outdoor games were played with the visiting team.

Rejuvenated Brad Richards helping Patrick Kane's game take off ... pic.twitter.com/uMLg5hInRw

— SI NHL (@SI_NHL) January 1, 2015

Orpik was questionable for Thursday because of an apparent right knee injury on Monday. And yet, he was in the thick of things.

Orpik is the king of Winter Classics. He appeared in two with the Pittsburgh Penguins, including the legendary first one.

In a game loaded with storylines, how about this one: Troy Brouwer played for the Caps against the team for which he won a Stanley Cup, and for the first time in D.C. with his father in attendance. Don Brouwer had a stroke during the 2009-10 season, Sports Illustrated notes.