ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock asked his players to keep their New Year's Eve revelry on pause out of respect for the 1 p.m. ET start of Wednesday's Winter Classic.
"They know there's an opportunity in our schedule for you to have a heck of a New Year's Eve Party on New Year's Day," Babcock said.
With snowfall expected, the game between the Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs at Michigan Stadium should be the most enchanting, picturesque spectacle in NHL history.
"All of these games have been phenomenal, and this one is going to be phenomenal on a scale no one has ever seen before," said NHL chief operating officer John Collins.
Counting 105,500 tickets sold and others in the building, NHL officials are hoping for an official attendance of about 107,000. That would be a world record for hockey attendance, breaking the old mark of 104,173 set at the college game between Michigan State and Michigan at the Big House on Dec. 11, 2010.
"I got chills walking out with maybe 150 people (in the stands), so I'm sure when the building is full, it's going to be an unbelievable experience," said Maple Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf.
The record for an NHL game is 71,217, set at the first Winter Classic game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y.
According to weather.com, there's an 80% chance of snow with accumulation of one to three inches. Winds are going to be blowing 10 to 20 mph and game-time temperature will be 16.
"You notice it," Maple Leafs star Phil Kessel said after Tuesday's practice. "When the wind's blowing and you're skating into the wind, it's chilly ... There's definitely a pushback."
Babcock isn't concerned.
"I thought the snow was great today," he said. "It adds to the atmosphere. It adds to the memory. It's going to be the same for both teams."
Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall said the ice quality is good. "But the puck does slide differently outdoors," he said. "That is something we will have to get used to."
Detroit winger Daniel Alfredsson (back spasms) didn't play Monday night and is day-to-day.
"I said to Alfie, you're not 20," Babcock said. "You play in tomorrow's game if you're ready for tomorrow's game. You don't play in tomorrow's game because it's an opportunity of a lifetime. That makes no sense to me. We're about winning."
Luke Glendening, who has shuttled between the American Hockey League and NHL, will play for the Red Wings, two days after he played outdoors for the AHL Grand Rapids (Mich.) Griffins outside at Comerica Park.
The Michigan native said he'll try to block out the enormity of the event. "But you can't when there is 110,000 screaming people," he said.
Babcock is enthralled to be playing in Michigan Stadium.
"If you haven't been to a football game Saturday here, then you should put it on your bucket list," he said.
He said a Michigan football game is the best sporting event he has ever attended.
"Can it transfer to hockey?" Babcock said. "I assume it can."
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