A day too nice: Sunny DC skies on New Year's Day could postpone start of Winter Classic

The rink at Nationals Park in Washington stands coated with ice Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2014, in preparation for the New Year's Day Winter Classic outdoor NHL hockey game between the Washington Capitals and the Chicago Blackhawks. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) (The Associated Press)

Final preparations are made at Nationals Park, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014, for the Winter Classic outdoor NHL hockey game to be held on New Year's Day. The Washington Capitals are scheduled to play the Chicago Blackhawks. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) (The Associated Press)

WASHINGTON – Too much sun could cause a delay in the start of the Winter Classic.

NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said Wednesday that the start of the New Year's Day outdoor game between the Chicago Blackhawks and Washington Capitals in the nation's capital could be moved back perhaps up to 90 minutes from its 1 p.m. scheduled face-off.

The forecast calls more mostly sunny skies and a high in the low 40s. The sun's glare could create a player safety issue — the fast-moving puck would be harder to see — and could deteriorate the ice at Nationals Park.

The shadows from the baseball stands will cover the rink by about 2:30 p.m., so that could be an alternative start time.

Daly said a decision won't be made until Thursday.