Watch 2015 Winter Classic Live Online: Chicago Blackhawks Vs. Washington Capitals Streaming Video

Hockey fans who can’t get to a television on New Year’s Day can watch the 2015 Winter Classic live online and see the Chicago Blackhawks and Washington Capitals face off from Nationals Park.

The annual hockey tradition, which kicked off as the calendar turned 2008, will feature one of the top teams in the league in Chicago and an Eastern Conference contender in Washington. But fans hoping to catch the Winter Classic when the puck is scheduled to drop at 1 p.m. may be out of luck.

With a bright and sunny forecast, league officials are looking at the possibility of delaying the Winter Classic to avoid playing under the bright sun, which could cause a blinding glare off the ice.

“Nobody wants to delay the game,” NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said. “So if there’s any way we can avoid delaying the game, we’re going to avoid delaying the game.”

Players said the sun has already been difficult during warm-ups.

“It was pretty bad,” Capitals defenseman Mike Green said. “Once you got on the ice and were skating around, it took about five or 10 minutes for guys to adjust, and it wasn’t easy to see pucks on the ice. It should be tough on the goalies if that’s the case tomorrow.”

The NHL agreed that it might be unsafe to play in the bright sun.

“It would be more of a player-safety issue,” Daly said. “The glare, if you’re having trouble picking up the puck, I think there’d be a concern.”

But fans looking to watch the 2015 Winter Classic live online may not have to wait too long to see the Washington Capitals and Chicago Blackhawks face off. League officials said they would try to make the delay as short as possible, and it wouldn’t start any later than 2:30 p.m., once the sun has moved behind the baseball stands.

The game has a bit of other competition this year. With the FBS moving to a new College Football Playoff, the 2015 Winter Classic will be competing with football games with national championship implications for the first time ever.

Brooks Laich has a simple solution for fans — ignore the football and tune in to the Winter Classic.

“This is one of my favorite catchphrases to use of all time: `Who cares? It’s college,” the Washington Capitals defenseman said. “I hope the rest of America has the same mindset I do.”

Fans who want to watch the 2015 Winter Classic live online can click here for streaming video of the Chicago Blackhawks vs. Washington Capitals. Fans can also turn to NHL.com for other coverage, including a webcam of Nationals Park and clips from warmups and interviews.