Hole in Pittsburgh's ice causes early end to first period

Playing at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, the Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins were sent back to their respective locker rooms with 6:26 left on the clock in the first period.

For the second time this week during a game, invoked Rule 77.3, which states that “if a delay takes place with more than five minutes remaining in the first or second period, the referee will order the next regular intermission to be taken.”

The ice crew in Pittsburgh determined they would need more time to fix a massive hole in the ice along the boards.

They brought out the heavy artillery to fix the issue; however, there is no word (yet) on what caused it in the first place.

Once the hole was patched to the ice crew’s satisfaction, the ice resurfacers came out and flooded the ice as if it was a normal intermission.

Here’s the after shot prior to the two teams coming back on the ice.

The improvised intermission was probably welcomed by the Bruins. It was a 0-0 game, however the Penguins were out-shooting Boston 11-3 at the time of the stoppage.

The remaining 6:26 was tacked on to the beginning of what would be the second period. Once time expired for remaining time in the first, the two sides took a quick break as the ice maintenance crew checked on the status of the patched piece of ice and the surface got a quick shoveling.

The two teams switched sides and commenced with the second period. To which Sidney Crosby, clearly invigorated by the change in period, makes a perfect pass that appears to go under the outstretched stick of Zdeno Chara, and right to Bryan Rust who scores.

On Thursday the Anaheim Ducks and Colorado Avalanche experienced an extended delay due to a large break in the glass at Honda Center.

The third period between the teams started with an additional 9:48 in play to finish the second period. Unlike the Boston-Pittsburgh game, the ice crew in Anaheim arena did a dry scrape because of the extra time the players were on the ice.

UPDATE:

Here’s Sportsnet video of what went on in Pittsburgh.

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Jen Neale is an editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow her on Twitter! Follow @MsJenNeale_PD.