The Capitals "likely" will play the Penguins in the 2011 Winter Classic at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh on New Year’s Day, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
The NHL, however, has not made an official announcement, but the Post-Gazette says things are falling into place for the Penguins and Capitals to face off on Jan. 1.
The District also has been making a push for the game to be played in Washington, either at Nationals Park or RFK Stadium. D.C. Council has passed a resolution asking for the NHL to seriously consider the District, but it looks like that plan has been put on ice.
The Crosby-Ovechkin rivalry has become so big that the NHL is believed to be favoring a second Penguins appearance in four years (they played Buffalo outdoors in 2008). An Ovechkin-Crosby outdoor game would offer the NHL's much-attractive matchup to a national audience on NBC.
Crosby and Ovechkin have combined to win the last three MVP awards, Crosby in 2007, Ovechkin in 2008 and 2009, and the two Eastern Conference players have formed the NHL's equivalent of the NBA's Kobe Bryant-LeBron James rivalry.
A person with knowledge of the discussions told The Associated Press on Sunday that Pittsburgh is in a strong position to be chosen as the host.
The league commonly does not reveal the Winter Classic site until after the Stanley Cup playoffs.
