Well, for as much as the NHL Outdoor games at Lake Tahoe provided beautiful scenes, that’s how as bad the playing conditions were. On Saturday afternoon, the Colorado Avalanche and the Vegas Golden Knights started their game at Lake Tahoe on a beautiful sunny day. And there was the problem that the NHL didn’t account for: the sun.
• Literally, how do you not consider the effects of sunlight on ice?
— out of context hockey (@hockeycontext) February 20, 2021
• What was supposed to be a huge risk and triumph for the NHL, became yet another instance of the league becoming the butt of the joke.
Ice causing some issues at Lake Tahoe. Players and refs getting caught in ruts pic.twitter.com/cUkTIpdyLm
— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) February 20, 2021
• What is an NHL event without having league commissioner Gary Bettman have to make a special announcement, right?
Gary Bettman announces postponement of the Vegas/Colorado Lake Tahoe game. Will resume at midnight ET. pic.twitter.com/lrUZlawfyH
— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) February 20, 2021
• This is not the first time that the sun has been the enemy of the NHL playing outdoors though…
Then when you watched the Road to the Winter Classic afterward, ALL the players who claimed it didn't bother them were, in fact, very pissed about it, which was hilarious.
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) February 20, 2021
• So what do you do when you are given an eight-hour delay? Well, if you’re Gritty, you hit the slopes of course.
Peace, love, & powder. pic.twitter.com/tXoW6lJV2Z
— Gritty (@GrittyNHL) February 20, 2021
• Eventually the game was resumed at midnight ET, 9 p.m. local time and the scenery was still great.
https://twitter.com/NHLonNBCSports/status/1363365411463585793?s=20
• At least the broadcast could have some fun with the debacle that became of the game.
— out of context hockey (@hockeycontext) February 21, 2021
• In response to the problems on Saturday, the Sunday game between the Flyers and Bruins was moved from an afternoon start, to an evening start to avoid that pesky sun.
• Also going on last night, without the previously scheduled Blackhawks-Hurricanes game to distract you, was Penguins Captain Sidney Crosby playing in his 1,000th NHL game. Arguably the best all-around player in league history, Crosby has had one of the most distinguished NHL careers with three Stanley Cups, two Conn Smythe trophies, two Art Ross Trophies, two Hart Memorial Trophies, two Rocket Richard Trophies, two Olympic Gold Medals, and 1,278 career points in 1,000 games.
Sidney Crosby's 1,000 @NHL games have been nothing short of sensational. Congratulations, Sid! You deserve it all. pic.twitter.com/pRAN1uYwwx
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 21, 2021
• You can see in the honorary video for Crosby, Patrick Kane is featured congratulating the Penguins’ Captain on reaching 1,000 games. Kane himself is approaching the same milestone, with 992 games played in his career. If there are no scheduling conflicts or injuries (knock on wood), Kane will play his 1,000th NHL game on March 9 against the Dallas Stars in Dallas. Had the Saturday night game against the Hurricanes not been postponed, Kane’s 1,000th game would have come on March 7th against the Tampa Bay Lightning … at the United Center. That’s a shame because the Blackhawks will not play at home again between March 9-20, making March 23 against the Florida Panthers the first opportunity for the Blackhawks to honor Kane’s 1,000th game properly at home, in what would be his 1,006th game.
• The Blackhawks are still in Raleigh, North Carolina after the postponement of their game against the Hurricanes. The Blackhawks are experiencing their first of two three-day breaks this season.
Blackhawks hitting the ice for practice in Raleigh, despite being 2 days removed from their game here. pic.twitter.com/lFbSZ0db2s
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) February 21, 2021
• Chicago is currently sitting in third-place in the Central Division based on points (22), but are outside of the playoff picture in fifth-place based on points percentage (.579). They are 7-2-1 in their last ten games and resume play on Tuesday night as they take on the Columbus Blue Jackets in Columbus.
• Finally, a double Blackhawks Birthday celebration as defensemen Jim Vandermeer and James Wisniewski share the day. Vandermeer turns 41-years-old and Wisniewski turns 37-years-old today!
A double #Blackhawks Birthday today as Jim Vandermeer turns 41 and James Wisniewski turns 37! pic.twitter.com/cFDGC5be2l
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) February 21, 2021
• The two transactions involving the Blackhawks and Vandermeer brought with them three eventual Stanley Cup winners. Vandermeer was acquired along with Colin Fraser and a second-round pick that turned into Bryan Bickell, then was traded in exchange for Ben Eager.