The NHL, hyping Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin on one hand and using the other to check weather reports, says Saturday's Winter Classic between the Penguins and Capitals will be played despite an ominous forecast of 49 degrees and rain showers.
"We're going to play," John Collins, the NHL's chief operating officer, said today at a news conference. "Weather is part of the game's DNA. I mean, it's an outdoor game. Like the World Series, weather gets involved in it. We're going to play. We're planning to play at 1 o'clock. We've got maximum flexibility to do what needs [to be done] to get that game in on Saturday."
Collins said there could be rain delays and the game could stretch into the evening.
"We'll gather as much information as we possibly can to make sure that we're taking into account the competitive integrity of the game and the safety of the players and obviously the convenience of the fans," Collins said. "I think everybody associated with the game, from the broadcast partners to our corporate partners to our licensees and I think our fans, understand what they're getting into for this."
---John Vogl
