ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The Winter Classic between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs began with cold temperatures as snow fell steadily over the ice at Michigan Stadium.
The game-time temperature was announced at -10 degrees C, with a wind chill of -17. The wind of 16 km/h was blowing into the faces of the Red Wings in the first period and figures to be a factor throughout the game.
Significant amounts of snow were shovelled off the ice during early stoppages in play.
The average temperature of the previous five Winter Classics was 3.9 degrees.