It’s game day, the Heritage Classic is here!
Posted Feb 20, 2011 9:08 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
It’s game day!
The Heritage Classic between the Calgary Flames and Montreal Canadiens takes place Sunday at 4pm (Sportsnet Radio-The Fan 960).
The forecast is calling for sunshine and a high of -8. However, the opening face-off doesn’t take place until sometime after 4 pm, when the sun is on its way down and the temperature begins to fall.
Globe & Mail sports columnist Bruce Dowbiggin tells 660News, if it ends up being a bit warmer than the forecast high it should be a good game. (But) “if the weather stays as cold as it’s been for the last few days, I think it’s going to be a battle for survival on both parts,” says Dowbiggin. “I think we might see something as bizarre as the wind being a distinct advantage in the third period which is something you never consider in an indoor game.”
In other words, although they won’t have the option like the Stampeders in a CFL game, it might be preferable to pick what end of the stadium you want to defend so you’re not skating into a wind in the third period.
Regardless, Dowbiggin feels shortly after the puck drop, the Flames and Canadiens will forget about the novelty of the experience, adapt to the weather conditions, and get down to business with two points up for grabs and both teams battling for a playoff spot.
“Motivation is not a problem,” says Dowbiggin. “And they seem to bear down and focus pretty quickly after the game gets going. I mean the Winter Classic” (in Pittsburgh, New Year’s Day), “we had rain and they still managed to play through rain. So I don’t think focus will be a problem for them. I think they should be OK. You get over that in the first five minutes and then bear down and play the game.”
Dowbiggin also predicts the NHL will be keeping a close eye on today’s game. Since the first outdoor game, eight years ago in Edmonton, subsequent outdoor games have been played in the United States. He says if today’s game is successful, then the NHL might look at adding a Canadian version of the game to the schedule.
“It’s been extremely popular,” adds Dowbiggin. “It’s become their best seller in the United States, and so I think they want to see just what the value is in Canada. And I think there’s also a sense that Canadians are saying: ‘Well, wait a minute, the winter classic is becoming an American institution, maybe we need one for the Canadian teams to play in. I think they’re testing the waters to see what the market will bear.”
