If anyone was walking near Columbus Circle on Saturday Morning, chances are there were fully dressed hockey players with gloves and sticks roaming the streets.
After the bus collided with a car while the Pittsburgh Penguins were on their way from Madison Square Garden to Central Park, the players decided not to miss out on their opportunity to have a practice outside, especially in Central Park.
"It was quite a sight," coach Dan Bylsma told NHL.com. "I think the gentleman involved in the accident backed off a little bit when he saw a whole hockey team get out with sticks and gloves in their hands — and if he had known anything about last night, that may be why he backed off."
It took 18 cabs, including a SUV sized cab to fit the goalie's gear. "We had the big SUV cab because Johnny (Brent Johnson) had all his goalie gear," forward Craig Adams told NHL.com. "I don't think the cab driver cared, but I don't think he was a big hockey fan."
Although, they had the chance to skate outdoors already like at the 2011 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic on New Years Day, this was more of chance to play the classic game of shinny, after a hard-fought loss to the Islanders on Friday night.
The team was split into two squads, one with goalie Marc-Andre Fleury on the Black side and the other with Brent Johnson on the White side.
"The white team kind of complained that they played against the wind," Pascal Dupuis told NHL.com. "But the black team won."
The Practice concluded with a shootout won by the white team and lots of kids watching a good old fashioned game of backyard hockey.
