NHL UPDATE: Forecast Clears, Stadium Series Game is a Go

PHILADELPHIA — The NHL announced the Stadium Series game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers at Lincoln Financial Field will start on time, and likely be played to its completion. The Stadium Series weather forecast has cleared and the NHL does not expect substantial precipitation.

The puck drop is scheduled for just after 8 p.m., however initial forecasts predicted heavy rains which would have made the game unplayable. Updated weather forecasts Saturday called for light precipitation after the start of the game, so the NHL is confident the game will not suffer delays or postponement.

The NHL did remind fans that umbrellas are not permissible in the stadium.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman will have discretion to start or stop the game based on weather conditions. A cool oddity which could occur–if the shootout cannot be held due to weather, it would be held prior to the Flyers-Penguins game at PPG Paints Arena on March 17.

Additional Notes from the NHL release, including postponement and cancellation details:

Period and game format may be reconfigured to accommodate temporary stoppages as determined appropriate by the Commissioner.

In the event of high winds at the ice surface, the clubs will switch ends at the 10-minute mark of the third period as signaled by a “hard whistle.” The faceoff will take place where the play was whistled dead. This identical procedure will take place at the 2:30 mark of the five-minute overtime period if needed.

In the event of a shootout, each club will determine what end they prefer to defend, which could be the same end.

If the game is started, then stopped permanently due to unplayable weather conditions, it will be deemed “official” once two periods have been played. The team leading at the time play is stopped will be declared the winner and will be awarded two points in the standings.

If the game is tied at the time play is stopped permanently, any time after two periods of play, each team will be awarded one point in the standings, with an opportunity to earn an additional point in a standard shootout format.

Should weather conditions permit, the shootout will be conducted at Lincoln Financial Field immediately after regulation play has been stopped. If weather conditions make it impossible to conduct a shootout safely at Lincoln Financial Field, the shootout will take place at PPG Paints Arena on Sunday, March 17 prior to the regularly scheduled Philadelphia-Pittsburgh game, with Philadelphia deemed the home club for shootout purposes only.

Should the game is started and stopped permanently due to unplayable weather conditions, and fewer than two periods of regular time has been played, the game will be officially “postponed” and, if possible, will be played in its entirety at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Feb. 24. If the game cannot be replayed at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, Feb. 24, it will be rescheduled at Wells Fargo Center on a date to be determined later in the season.