PITTSBURGH -- This blog entry is coming to you from high above the ice at Consol Energy Center, where the Penguins and Thrashers are going through their pregame warm-ups.
The news from here this morning was all about Jordan Staal, who could be making his season debut on Saturday at the 2011 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic. Sidney Crosby, of course, is looking to extend his point-scoring streak to 25 games. He has registered a point in every game since Nov. 3 and has 24 goals and 22 assists during the span.
Over at Heinz Field the news of the day continues to be weather. Don Renzulli told me he's still seeing forecasts calling for showers and temperatures in the high 40s to low 50s, but while contingency plans are being discussed at the highest level within the NHL there is still plenty of optimism that the Winter Classic will be played on Saturday.
Dan Craig had his ice crew painting the lines, circles, faceoff dots, and blue creases while also installing the logos this afternoon once the sun faded away from Heinz Field. They are expected to finish the artwork and seal overtop of it by 10 o'clock or so tonight.
Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl made his first appearance at Heinz Field the Hockey Rink Tuesday afternoon with a group of kids from the Pittsburgh I.C.E. hockey program. They learned how to paint the crease with Craig and even wrote "PENS" in the middle of it.
Ravenstahl told reporters on site that he's looking at the Winter Classic as another opportunity to showcase to the country and the world how Pittsburgh is changing its image.
Finally, back here at Consol Energy Center in the afternoon Shawn P. Roarke caught the Penguins' alumni going through a workout. Mario Lemieux was on the ice again with Bryan Trottier, Bob Errey, Phil Bourque, Gilles Meloche and others.
They'll all be playing Friday morning at Heinz Field in Lemieux's Penguins-Capitals Alumni game.
Now it's time to watch some hockey.
Follow Dan Rosen on Twitter at: @drosennhl