Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

NHL pushes back start time for Bruins-Flyers at Lake Tahoe due to poor ice conditions

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 2/20/21

Hosting outdoor hockey games at any venue is difficult. It's even more difficult when there's not a cloud in the sky.

The NHL scheduled the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche to play outdoors on Saturday at Lake Tahoe, and the ice conditions were deplorable.

The ice is causing some issues at Lake Tahoe today pic.twitter.com/F8vW3QkY38
— Everything Hockey (@EHClothing) February 20, 2021

The tarps are coming out.
Think this will get called?
@NHLonNBCSports pic.twitter.com/CeSG6Ly8MT
— Here's Your Replay ⬇️ (@HeresYourReplay) February 20, 2021

After just one period of hockey, the NHL was forced to bring out tarps to cover the ice and delay the remainder of the game. According to NHL Network's Jon Morosi, the remainder of the game will be played either Saturday night or Sunday morning.

The Avalanche were leading the Golden Knights 1-0 on a goal from Samuel Girard.

Eddie Olczyk reports on NBC, per Gary Bettman, that league officials will determine shortly whether Avalanche-Golden Knights will be resumed later today, tonight, or tomorrow morning — picking up with 1-0 score in second period. @NHLNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) February 20, 2021

As a result of the poor conditions, the NHL pushed the Boston Bruins-Philadelphia Flyers matchup at Lake Tahoe to 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT in hopes the ice conditions will be better.

Start time to Honda #NHLOutdoors Sunday changed to 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT. In addition, start time to the @NJDevils at @Capitals game changed to 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT. pic.twitter.com/8IHFTTjLMx
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) February 20, 2021

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