PHILADELPHIA -- A 40-minute hockey game? Given the Penguins' inconsistencies and inability to put together a 60-minute effort, that should suit them perfectly, right?
Jokes aside, there's a very real possibility that tonight's Stadium Series game at Lincoln Financial Field could be postponed after just two periods. That is one of a handful of contingencies, some of them rather far out, that the NHL has in place tonight with the forecast calling for heavy rains later on.
Flyers coach Scott Gordon called it unique.
"Find out after the second period is over that you lost the game or won the game, and you're not really given an opportunity -- and this is for either team -- it's kind of a unique situation," Gordon said. "That's the cards we're dealt ... , so just go out and win the game."
The Flyers don't have much experience in winning outdoor games. They are 0-2-1 in the outdoors, including a loss to the Penguins in the 2017 Stadium Series game at Heinz Field.
Zach Aston-Reese? He not only has outdoor game experience, he's played in a game that was called after two periods.
He said it happened while he was at Northeastern, when a game was called due to, can't make it up, a Zamboni malfunction. On Nov. 16, 2016, the Huskies' game against Notre Dame was called after two scoreless periods when one Zamboni at Matthews Arena broke down. A second Zamboni had to tow the broken vehicle off but it caused too much damage to the ice.
"Kind of ended up screwing up Notre Dame's season," Aston-Reese was saying. "They probably would have beat us and won the Hockey East title. You can't have that weighing on your head. You just have to expect the game to be played at the regular time and to finish out."
About two hours before the puck dropped Saturday night, there was only a light drizzle falling around Philadelphia. Whether the game will be 60 minutes or 40, invariably, the ice isn't going to be very good. It's the nature of outdoor hockey games.
"I think the ice conditions are always going to vary, especially tonight," Aston-Reese says. "If it was raining a little bit today, and it's going to rain later on, you have to simplify your game. The puck is going to be sticking to the ice and probably taking weird bounces. That's when you have to simply your game. I'm sure there'll be some ugly goals tonight."
Might there be an empty-net goal in the second period? With the possibility that the game could end after two periods, Mike Sullivan says he'd have no problem pulling his goalie -- whoever that is -- if the Penguins are down a goal or two.
"We've talked about that," he said. "We're not sure they're going to call the game after that particular point. If we know and have that information, and they're going to call the game after two periods and that constitutes a game, then we'd consider it for sure."
• Flyers rookie goalie Carter Hart was injured while taking pregame warmups Thursday at Montreal, according to coach Scott Gordon. Hart, who was yanked after giving up three goals on nine shots, did not report the injury until after practicing Friday at Lincoln Financial Field. "Carter, to his credit, tried to fight through it, but it was more severe than he thought," Gordon said.
• Sullivan didn't say who will be his starting goalie or what his lines or defense parings will be. One that seems likely is that Patric Hornqvist will be reunited with Sidney Crosby on the top line. Sullivan didn't rule it out.
"Anybody that plays with Sid has an opportunity to be at their best because (Crosby) makes the players around him better," the coach said. "I do think that's an option. It's something we have discussed."
