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Unlike last year, ice conditions don’t have teams worried

John Tortorella

While the 2012 Winter Classic will start a couple hours later at 3 p.m. ET to give the game better conditions to play, there aren’t any concerns over the ice.

Coach John Tortorella made sure that if anyone does complain about the ice, it won’t be traced back to him.

“It wasn’t bad. It wasn’t bad. It’s not going to be perfect. They have worked very hard at it, and so both teams are going to skate on the ice. Both teams did the same thing today with their families. Both teams have gone through the same thing the past month. So let’s just play.”

Yes, sir, let’s do this.

Rangers forward Artem Anisimov also gave the ice a big thumbs up.

“Ice? It’s good ice. It’s hard ice. I like it. It’s going to be a fun game tomorrow.”

Philly’s Maxime Talbot also was feeling good about the ice and considering he played in last year’s Winter Classic, he knows how tough it can get.

“The ice condition has been like pretty good and fun. It’s a special event and I think everything that surrounds the event is great and we feel privileged to be part of this game.”

Comparing how the ice in Pittsburgh was last year, which was hampered by rain and warm temperatures, this year’s game is shaping up to be just fine.