This week's Buffalo Blitz is a little different then past ones. With the 2007 Winter Classic right around the corner, the Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins will be matching up at Ralph Wilson Stadium on January 1. Pittsburgh Penguins' defensemen Ryan Whitney, and Brooks Orpik, a native of Buffalo, participated in a conference call about the game. Here's what transpired:

Q: Do you treat this game different then any other game when it comes to preparation for the cold weather?

BO: No I don't think we're going to prepare any differently, I think it's obviously going to be a lot different for both teams playing outdoors. I think the biggest thing is just being mentally prepared for it. As much as it is a different type of atmosphere, it is a regular season game, probably just a much as the other games. I think being mentally focused is the biggest thing, physically, who knows what the weather is going to be like.

Q: What do you envision it being like playing in front of over 76,000 fans?

BO: That will definetly be an experience, I've been to a bunch of football games, been down on the sideline, it's amazing how big those stadiums are....It will definetly be a unique experience for everyone at home, and it should be a lot of fun."

Q: what's this game going to be like playing in Buffalo, are there are friends and family and friends trying to get tickets?

BO: Oh ya, there will be a lot people there, I've gotten a lot of calls a lot of emails, especially in the past couple of weeks leading up to it...It should be a lot of fun playing in front of a lot of people that I grew up with.

Q: This question is for Brooks, you mentioned being to a lot of football stadiums, did you get to a Bills game or two growing up here?

BO: I actually never went to a Bills game... When I was growing up that's when they had four losing teams in the Super Bowl, they were obviously the big ticket in town when I was growing up there, now it kind of seems that lately it has shifted toward the Sabres.

Q: What do you guys usually do on new years?

BO: Usually it's kind a recover day, lay around, watch some football, it's different now with the game, so I'm sure that we'll all be asleep before midnight strikes on new years eve.

Q: What does it mean to play in a game like this that will be in the national spotlight?

RW: I think it's pretty cool, to know that many people will be watching It's a day when people will be sitting around not doing to much, so I'm sure that it will be a very highly rated game on national tv in Canada and the united states also.