The Buffalo Sabres and the Pittsburgh Penguins will switch ends halfway through the third period of the NHL Winter Classic on New Year's Day (CBC, 12:30 p.m. ET).

The move is to ensure that each team spends an equal number of minutes attacking or defending each goal so any advantages or adversities created by weather conditions at Ralph Wilson Stadium will be nullified.

If a five-minute overtime period is necessary, it also would be divided in half, with the teams switching ends after 2:30 of play, the NHL announced.

Each goaltender would be given the option of determining which goal to defend in the event of a shootout, so it is possible that both teams would shoot at the same net.

Once a goaltender has chosen the net he wants to defend, he must defend that goal for every round of the shootout.

The game, which is expected to attract more than 70,000 fans, will be broadcast nationally in the United States on NBC.

The forecast for Tuesday in Buffalo is for temperatures just above freezing with a 40-per-cent chance of precipitation.