Buffalo Sabres, Toronto Maple Leafs prepared for extreme wind, cold ahead of Heritage Classic in Hamilton, Ontario

Buffalo Sabres' coach Don Granato had a one-word review for the conditions following his team's outdoor practice on Saturday, ahead of Sunday's Heritage Classic against the Toronto Maple Leafs:

«Cold.»

The other thing Granato noticed?

«The wind.»

Those are the challenges Toronto and Buffalo are preparing to face when the puck drops at 4 p.m. on Sunday at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, Ontario.

The weather is expected to be much like it was on Saturday — temperatures around 10 degrees, wind gusts approaching 30 mph, and a chance of snow. Only Toronto's practice, which happened about 90 minutes after the Sabres' on Saturday, had an appearance of snow, but Buffalo is prepared for the possibility come Sunday.

«It's a factor, there's no question,» Granato said of the environmental elements. «If the wind is like it is today, there is a dramatic difference in how you execute. It's interesting just watching our guys snapping the puck with significantly less [velocity]. So, it's good to get out there today and have that one-day acclimation, because you do need to acclimate and test it.»

Meteorological uncertainty is a time-honored tradition at these NHL events after all. The Outdoors Game in Lake Tahoe last year was delayed eight hours due to the sun, and January's Winter Classic was played under «extreme cold» that reached minus-six.

Buffalo goalie Craig Anderson knows the best approach is to expect the unexpected. Sunday's tilt will be his third career outdoor game, and first since 2017. Anderson's happy to share what he's learned with teammates wondering what's to come.

«The ice is a lot colder than it normally is,» Anderson said. «That changes things. The flex on the stick is different. Guys are trying to figure out what they