Winter Classic could be delayed by sun glare

The start of Thursday's Winter Classic at Nationals Park in Washington could be delayed because of a glare on the ice.

The game is scheduled to start at 1 p.m., but Capitals center Brooks Laich said Tuesday that the Caps and Blackhawks have been told there could be a sun delay.

"We were warned today that there might be a time change based on glare, if there’s too much sun," Laich said, according to The Washington Post. "But I think I’d rather deal with sun than rain. I think even with sun, you’re going to have better ice conditions, you’re going to have a better product on the ice, which we still want a very good hockey game for the people to watch."

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Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times tweeted a photo Tuesday that showed the ice surface covered in shadows around 2:45 p.m.

2:45 and the sun glare is mostly gone. I'd expect a delay until around now on Thursday, but you never know. pic.twitter.com/Ph22uGKWOK
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) December 30, 2014

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The 2012 Winter Classic in Philadelphia was also delayed by sun, for about two hours. The start of the 2011 event in Pittsburgh was pushed back to 8 p.m. because of rain.

The forecast for Thursday in Washington calls for sunny skies with temperatures near 40 degrees.

- Dan Gartland