Empty Netters has a few posts going about the game and all of the tailgaiting going on.

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 01/01/08 at 01:08 PM ET

Wow, the snow. This is going to be interesting.

Posted by false_cause from DC on 01/01/08 at 01:14 PM ET

Unis look great on both sides.

Posted by false_cause from DC on 01/01/08 at 01:17 PM ET

Yeah, hockey isn’t big in the U.S.  Even though they can fill a football stadium.  Novelty game or not.

Posted by cementslinger from Midland MI on 01/01/08 at 01:37 PM ET

NBCSports.com is supposed to be streaming the game, but at this point having technical problems.

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 01/01/08 at 01:44 PM ET

Why isn’t Lindy Ruff wearing a hat?

He’s setting a bad example for the children! 

(Plus he doens’t have enough hair to provide that much insulation.)

Interesting how the passes are a little slower because of the ice conditions, but usually are pretty accurate.

(Stray thought - I wonder if they had to make the announcement before the game about looking out for pucks going into the crowd.)

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 01/01/08 at 01:49 PM ET

This is so much fun. I think it looks like the players are really having fun despite the conditions. Part of me wishes I could be there, but the other part of me that is fighting a cold is really glad I’m not sitting outside in the snow! Man, it really brings me back to growing up on the lake in Michigan and playing hockey every winter. Geez… Crosby’s stick handling is a thing of beauty.

Posted by Jennifer on 01/01/08 at 01:51 PM ET

Now that the snow seems to have stopped, the photos from the plane and the long shots look much better.

Posted by Jim from Idaho on 01/01/08 at 02:03 PM ET

I hope the get the ice situation sorted out. That delay to fix the ice was a bit disruptive.

Posted by Jennifer on 01/01/08 at 02:12 PM ET

Just in case…

If the game is started, then stopped due to unplayable weather conditions and cannot be resumed, it will be deemed “official” once 40 full minutes have been played. The team leading at the time play is discontinued permanently will be declared the winner and will be awarded two points in the standings.

If the game is tied at the time play is discontinued permanently, any time after the 40-minute mark, each team will be awarded one point in the standings, with an opportunity to earn an additional point in a standard shootout format.

If weather conditions permit, the shootout will be conducted at Ralph Wilson Stadium immediately after regulation play has been stopped. If weather conditions make it impossible to conduct a shootout safely at Ralph Wilson Stadium, the shootout will be conducted Sunday, February 17, prior to the regularly scheduled Pittsburgh-Buffalo game at HSBC Arena.

If the game is started, is stopped due to unplayable weather conditions, and cannot be restarted, and fewer than 40 minutes of regular time has been played, the game will be officially “postponed” and, if possible, will be played in its entirety at Ralph Wilson Stadium on Wednesday night, January 2, beginning at 7 pm. If the game cannot be replayed at Ralph Wilson Stadium on January 2, it will be rescheduled at HSBC Arena for a date to be determined later in the season.

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 01/01/08 at 02:28 PM ET

Thanks for the info Paul. With it sleeting now, you have to wonder what will happen.

Posted by Jennifer on 01/01/08 at 02:30 PM ET

I hope they can complete the game as scheduled.

The atmosphere looks incredible, and the fans (judging by the roar at the Buffalo goal) are obviously having a great time.

There seems to be a lot less extraneous noise than in most indoor games - less loud music before every faceoff, for example.  I wonder if it was a deliberate decision for this game or if the outdoor venue dictated it?

Either way, I like the change and the focus on the natural sound in the venue.  It’s far less annoying.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 01/01/08 at 02:42 PM ET

If you want to read what the HD experts are saying about the game, check out AVSForums...

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 01/01/08 at 02:54 PM ET

Scott Burnside of ESPN is live blogging from the press box.

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 01/01/08 at 03:25 PM ET

How cool would a team with red uniforms look against a background of snow flurries?

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 01/01/08 at 03:34 PM ET

Scott Burnside said:  Reinforcing the notion that Buffalo is a new, true Hockeytown, there are 11,500 fans down at HSBC Arena (the Sabres’ regular home) watching the game. Proceeds will go to the Sabres’ charitable foundation.

Fueling the fire isn’t he, Paul?

10:00 left in the third and Real Time is showing “Delay:  Rink Repair” for the longest time now - almost fifteen minutes.

Posted by SYF from a "Bron-Y-Aur Stomp" on 01/01/08 at 03:43 PM ET

They broke one of the Zambonis, so it took a little longer to resurface the ice in the middle of the third period.

CBC showed crowd shots of the spectators singing along to “Living on a Prayer” and “Let it Snow.” 

(Scott Burnside also reported the attendance at 71,217 - still not as many as the Cold War!)

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 01/01/08 at 03:49 PM ET

Wiki said the record is 74,544 at Spartan Stadium.

Imagine staging that rivalry in Michigan Stadium?  120,000+ fans for a hockey game.  Please make that happen…

Posted by SYF from Las Vegas, NV on 01/01/08 at 03:59 PM ET

Detroit Red Wings vs. Toronto Maple Leafs?

Maybe with UM vs. MSU as an appetizer? (After all, MSU was home for one game, UM should get a chance.)

If you really wanted to be crazy, maybe toss in a US vs. Canada game with the kids playing for the development program in Ann Arbor.  It could be a Hockey Day in Michigan triple-header - juniors, college, and pros.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 01/01/08 at 04:06 PM ET

And it’s the Pens 2-1 in a shootout.

Had to be a great game as I was watching from nhl.com’s Real Time all day today.

Posted by SYF from Las Vegas, NV on 01/01/08 at 04:37 PM ET

Well, that’s it…much better than I expected.
Now it is just waiting for the TV numbers.

Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 01/01/08 at 04:39 PM ET

Friend of mine from an nhl team just sent me this

“Anyone think this was fixed for a shoot-out on the national stage? I do. Crosby in the snow on a shoot-out to end the game…..couldn’t of asked for anything better, especially with a game with no fight….hmmm..Bettman written all over it, along with NBC.”

Posted by FlyersFan on 01/01/08 at 04:42 PM ET

Right FlyersFan, and I am sure the players were told not to score, and the goalies were told to stop every shot except for one.

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 01/01/08 at 04:45 PM ET

i’m sure that 4 on 3 OT was part of the conspiracy, too.

Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 01/01/08 at 04:50 PM ET

Did you really expect a fight when the players are incredibly cold and in “novelty mode” part of the time??  The notion that the game was fixed and that this kind of precision would even be possible is absolutely ridiculous.

Posted by NHLJeff from Pens fan in Chicago, IL on 01/01/08 at 05:00 PM ET

What if Crosby missed?  (He was only 1 for 5 going into the shootout.)

Or since he was the third shooter, didn’t even get the opportunity?

So do the Buffalo Sabres get to keep 100% of the gate as compensation for willingly not pushing for the extra point, especially at the end of regulation, to move a little more securely into a playoff position?

Not every team fights every game - especially when it is hard enough to concentrate on just completing a pass and avoiding the problem spot on the ice with all the distractions and unscheduled stoppages.  Why add an additional complication to a very long day?

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 01/01/08 at 05:16 PM ET