If rumor turns to fact, then the Washington Capitals will be hosting the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2015 Winter Classic. Until then, it remains rumor but multiple sources have received word that the two Metropolitan Division clubs will be meeting in next year's outdoor centerpiece.
Winter Classic 2015: Rumors indicate Flyers could play Capitals
The Philadelphia Flyers are rumored to be the favorites to face the Washington Capitals in the 2015 Winter Classic.
Winter Classic 2015: Who will the Caps play?
The rumblings began on Saturday afternoon when Shawn Reznik of The Hockey Writers received word from a source that Philadelphia would be involved in next year’s Winter Classic:
I have it on good authority the #Flyers will be playing the #Caps at the 2015 Winter Classic. @FlyersNation @TheOrangeUpdate @BroadStHockey
— Shawn (@ShawnTHW) December 21, 2013 In addition, Eklund of Hockeybuzz cited two sources on Sunday night who said the same thing, via Hockeybuzz:
According to two sources tonight next year’s Winter Classic will the Philadelphia Flyers visiting the nation’s capital to face the Washington Capitals. The outdoor series will also continue with Montreal, St. Louis, San Jose and Minnesota, and Tampa leading the list to host the games. An Announcement regarding the Caps and Flyers could be made soon.
On Monday, Tim Panaccio of Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia received comment from a Flyers official who confirmed that the team is a finalist for the event, but have not yet received word on whether they have been chosen yet, via CSN Philly:
A Flyers official said Monday morning that the club understood it was a finalist but had not been notified.
However, that same official wondered if the Caps had sent a hidden message to Philly recently by wearing their third jersey -- the previous Winter Classic jersey -- against the Flyers on Dec. 17 at Wells Fargo Center.
Panaccio initially reported that the Boston Bruins and Flyers were the two finalists for the event.
If Philadelphia is chosen it will mark the third time that the franchise has participated in the event. The Flyers played against the Bruins in the 2010 Winter Classic at Fenway Park and hosted the New York Rangers in the 2012 game at Citizens Bank Park.
Broad Street Hockey: Breaks down the Winter Classic rumors
Reznik is a credentialed writer in Philadelphia with media access to Flyers home games. Eklund is a somewhat dubious character in some hockey circles, but has broken stories and is also based in Philadelphia. Panaccio moonlights as a contributor to Eklund’s Hockeybuzz website and is one of the most reliable sources of Flyers news.
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