NHL set to reveal Winter Classic pairing
The NHL is expected to announce at a news conference at Fenway Park Wednesday that the Boston Bruins will play the third annual Winter Classic on New Year's Day. The opponent is expected to be the Flyers or the Washington Capitals.
The NHL said yesterday the news conference is being held to "make a major announcement concerning a special event." The league did not respond to an e-mail request for comment.
In June, sources said the Flyers were told they would be the Bruins' opponent.
Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs said in late May that he expected the game to be at Fenway and that the NHL would make an official announcement in July.
The league is also slated to announce its 2009-10 season schedule Wednesday.
In the NHL's other two outdoor games on New Year's Day, Pittsburgh played Buffalo at Ralph Wilson Stadium in 2008 and Detroit played Chicago at Wrigley Field this year.
Noteworthy
* The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed Flyers free agent goalie Antero Niittymaki to be the backup to starter Mike Smith.
Lightning general manager Brian Lawton said the signing accomplished an offseason priority of adding an experienced backup goalie.
Niittymaki has played in 161 career NHL games, all with the Flyers, and has a 62-61-23 record. He appeared in 32 games in 2008-09, going 15-8-6.
Smith missed the final 2 months of last season due to post concussion syndrome. The Lightning have said Smith will be ready for the start of training camp in September. *
