Outdoor Caps-Leafs game still set for Saturday despite high winds

The National Hockey League expects the Saturday "Stadium Series" game between the Washington Capitals and Toronto Maple Leafs to be played as planned despite high winds in the Annapolis, Md., area Friday.

The outdoor game is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. The NHL said it is "monitoring the conditions" and will issue a further update by 1:30 p.m. ET on Saturday.

If the wind remains a big enough factor, the game could be pushed back to Sunday.

Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock said Friday he believes the teams will play Saturday night.

"Tomorrow we're going to get up, there's going to be no wind, and we're going to have a good game tomorrow night," Babcock said. "That's the way it's going to be. These things have a way of working themselves out just fine."

In previous instances where high winds have impacted outdoor NHL games, teams have changed ends at the 10-minute mark of the third period in order to negate any advantage gained from skating with the wind blowing to the back of the players.

--Field Level Media