The National Hockey League announced today the 2011 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic will change the original 1 p.m. (ET) start time on New Year’s Day to 8 p.m. (ET). The decision was based on the latest meteorological reports, which have advised an approaching front of potentially steady rain expected to fall through the afternoon and taper off by early evening, and after consultation with the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Washington Capitals, national broadcast partners (NBC, CBC, RDS), the Pittsburgh Steelers, the National Hockey League Players’ Association, and local officials. We have been further advised that cooler and drier air conditions are expected in the evening with the passing of the front

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Michael Leighton’s six-month wait to return to meaningful NHL action ended Thursday night in Los Angeles, but the questions over his future in Philadelphia remain. Leighton’s first start since the sixth and final game of the Stanley Cup Final ended with a 7-4 win over the Kings, but the 29-year-old goalie was shaky in the victory, allowing four goals. Leighton sat out the first 35 games of the season after undergoing back surgery on Oct. 11.

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The National Hockey League has suspended Flyers left wing Jody Shelley for two games as a result of an incident in Tuesday night’s game at Vancouver, according to Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren. Shelley was assessed a match penalty for intent to injure at 12:29 of the third period. As a result of the suspension, Shelley will miss Thursday’s game at Los Angeles and Friday’s game at Anaheim

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The Philadelphia Flyers announced today that they have recalled 5-10, 180-pound defenseman Erik Gustafsson from their American Hockey League affiliate, the Adirondack Phantoms, on emergency conditions, according to general manager Paul Holmgren. It is the first NHL call-up for Gustafsson, who will be available for tomorrow’s game against the Los Angeles Kings and will wear #27. Gustafsson, 22 (12-15-88), was signed by the Flyers as a free agent on March 3, 2010.

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Q: Talk about your decision to come out a day early? “Off the break, you know they’ve been off long enough. They need to practice and we might as well do it out here and get used to the time change and get settled in here.” Q: What did you see in practice today with the team being off as long as they were? “It was pretty good I thought. The guys skated pretty hard.

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The Philadelphia Flyers announced today that they have named Joe Paterson the head coach of the Adirondack Phantoms, according to general manager Paul Holmgren. John Paddock, who had been serving as the interim head coach of the Phantoms since November 8, will return full-time to his duties as assistant general manager of the Flyers.

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CHRIS PRONGER TO UNDERGO FOOT SURGERY MATT WALKER RECOVERING FROM SUCCESSFUL HIP SURGERY The Philadelphia Flyers announced today that defenseman Chris Pronger will undergo surgery this afternoon to repair a broken bone in his right foot, according to general manager Paul Holmgren. In addition, Holmgren also announced that defenseman Matt Walker underwent successful hip surgery on Thursday. Pronger will have his procedure at 1pm to repair a broken first metatarsal in his right foot. The surgery will be performed by Dr. Steven Raikin

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The Pittsburgh/Philadelphia NHL game Tuesday night was the most watched regular season game ever on VERSUS (beating the 2010/11 season opener on 10/07/10 featuring Philly/Pittsburgh, 730,000 viewers). It was also the most watched regular season NHL telecast on cable since 12/04/03 (Detroit/St Louis on ESPN; 758,000 viewers).

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Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger did not play in the final period of the Flyers’ win in Montreal because of what the club called a lower body injury. Pronger underwent reconstructive surgery on his right knee over the summer and missed the first two games of the season. He leads all Flyers defensemen in points with 15. If Pronger cannot play Saturday against the Rangers, look for Oskars Bartulis to see his first NHL action since Nov. 1

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Comcast-Spectacor Chairman Ed Snider has been selected to receive the first Lifetime Achievement Award presented at the Comcast SportsNet Shining Star Awards benefitting the March of Dimes at The Westin Philadelphia Hotel on Friday, January 21 at 6 p.m. These awards, hosted by Comcast SportsNet’s Ron Burke, will honor Snider for his generous charitable work and his impact on the Philadelphia sports landscape. “In addition to setting a standard of excellence with the Flyers and 76ers, Ed Snider has created incredible opportunities for many of the residents of Philadelphia through his philanthropic efforts,” said Shining Star Awards Chairman Dan Finnerty. “We are thrilled to be able to recognize his unparalleled success and generosity by awarding him our inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award

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