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Who’s up for a 7 hour intermission?
After one period of play in the outdoor game between the Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights, the NHL has decided to wait for the sun to go down before they play the final 40 minutes.
With the first intermission dragging on for about an hour and fifteen minutes, Gary Bettman and the NHL decided to push back the resumption of the Avalanche’s outdoor game to 9pm local time, 10pm MT, after ice troubles plagued the teams in the first period. The game will move from NBC to NBCSN.
PROGRAMMING ALERT: #VegasBorn vs. #GoAvsGo will resume at MIDNIGHT ET on NBCSN. #NHLOutdoors pic.twitter.com/RFmYYBv3AR
— #NHLOutdoors on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) February 20, 2021
Players and officials were seen consistently tripping on the ice in this new, unique experiment the NHL is trying out. However, the sunny conditions in Lake Tahoe has caused the ice to falter and cause some issues.
This ice looks awful.
— Vic Lombardi (@VicLombardi) February 20, 2021
I wouldn’t even skate on this ice surface.
And I can’t skate. pic.twitter.com/tL5N3uYcmv
After one period, the Avalanche are ahead 1-0 thanks to a shot from the right circle from Samuel Girard in his first game back. The Avalanche have been the better team on the front foot, and ended the period on the power play. With this being possibly the longest intermission in the NHL, the momentum will be reset when play resumes.
WELCOME BACK, G#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/0RIHb9P31d
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) February 20, 2021
Even in warmups, Phillip Grubauer had a unique challenge with the sun glare and even experimented with sunglasses to deal with it.
Phillip Grubauer rocking a set of shades during warm-ups at Lake Tahoe is a whole mood. MORE @ https://t.co/oh6h2bB9r8 pic.twitter.com/UPwr0hQxwd
— BarDown (@BarDown) February 20, 2021
Pregame ceremonies included a puck delivery from the US Coast Guard and a stunning drone shot of the scenery in this spectacular event. Before play was halted, the sports world was gawking at the sight of the rink right on the shore of Lake Tahoe, with white-capped mountains standing tall in the background.
Not mad about the views #NHLOutdoors #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/NkjyMHalJh
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) February 20, 2021
Unreal. #NHLOutdoors #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/RHfn6YBBj2
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) February 20, 2021
Like something out of a movie #NHLOutdoors pic.twitter.com/EBHkpHoTVX
— ESPN (@espn) February 20, 2021
The scene at Lake Tahoe for #NHLOutdoors belongs in a museum
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 20, 2021
(via @NHLonNBCSports)pic.twitter.com/zJNQVOzonk
The NHL also pushed back tomorrow’s outdoor game of the Flyers vs. the Bruins to 7 PM ET because of the ice troubles under the glaring sun. After the game was pushed back to later this evening, Gabe Landeskog spoke to NBC about the unique situation.
#Avs captain Gabriel Landeskog on NBC: "We were ready to go back out whenever they called us back. We wanted to go back out. But it's probably the right decision."
— Peter Baugh (@Peter_Baugh) February 20, 2021
"We were having fun out there."
This may just be the longest intermission in NHL history. Get a nap in, we’ve got some late-night hockey coming! We’ll see you in a few hours for the resumption of the game at Lake Tahoe!
See you tonight!