from Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star,

There’s a feeling with some in the hockey community that the NHL’s outdoor games have passed their best-before dates, or that there are too many of them, that they are meaningless.

But that’s not true for the city hosting the outdoor game, for the fans attending, for the teams and players involved — or for television.

”There are two points on the line, but it’s a special event and you should embrace that and enjoy it as much as you can,” Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock told reporters in Annapolis, Md. “The way our schedule is, it’s set up perfect for us. We look forward to it.”

The Leafs and Capitals practised indoors Friday after high winds forced the league to cancel a practice at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, where the final outdoor game of the NHL season will be played. Capitals forward Tom Wilson is among the players looking forward to Saturday (8 p.m., Sportsnet, NBC).

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