REPORT: Winter Classic in Primetime Saturday Due to Rain

We’ll have more on this if it comes to pass later, but for now, here’s this from Katie Carrera of the Washington Post:

According to an NHL source, the Winter Classic between the Capitals and Penguins will be pushed back to an evening start time in order to avoid inclement weather forecasted for the Pittsburgh area on Jan. 1. The league and its broadcast partners could delay the game to as late as 8 p.m.

 

The latest weather reports predict about 0.5″ of rain in Pittsburgh between Saturday morning and afternoon, with 80 percent of it falling before 1 p.m. It should taper off around 3-4 p.m., theoretically giving Winter Classic officials time to get the ice ready for faceoff.

 

The NHL is waiting for one more weather report before making a final decision, the source said, but an announcement is expected at 5 p.m.