Wrigley work on schedule

The 60-degree temperatures Saturday did little to slow the progress of workers at Wrigley Field as they continue to get the ice surface ready for Thursday's Winter Classic.

All that was delayed Saturday was the painting of the ice, which now is scheduled for today.

"We'll give it a nice little shave, a couple hot floods and be ready to paint," NHL facilities manager Dan Craig said. "Everything is on schedule. It all depends on how Mother Nature handles us (today). Our guys are prepared to work 24 hours a day right through to the end."

The ice is down and the rink is built. Craig said the game could have been played Saturday, even with the high temperatures.

"Wind is more of an issue than heat, wind and high humidity," Craig said. "Most of our buildings are 60 degrees anyway."

Don Renzulli laughed off Friday's 12-hour workday spent hauling all of the snow out of the seating areas and away from the ballpark.

"We had 300 people down here clearing out the snow," Renzulli said. "We probably should have waited a day."

Money matters: Hawks general manager Dale Tallon said the team is right at the NHL's $56.7 million salary cap with defenseman Aaron Johnson coming off long-term injured reserve.

The Hawks must make a roster move once Adam Burish comes off long-term IR. It's almost certain that either Cam Barker will be returned to Rockford or Brent Sopel will be placed on waivers and assigned to the minors if nobody claims the veteran defenseman.

Name that goalie: Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said Cristobal Huet would start in goal tonight at Minnesota. After Nikolai Khabibulin's likely start Tuesday at Detroit, Quenneville said he would evaluate the situation as to a starter for Thursday's Winter Classic, although look for it to be Khabibulin again.

"We'll see," Quenneville said. "That's something we'll talk about. We haven't made up our mind yet.

"I was talking (to Khabibulin) today, asking if he had any exposure to playing outside, and he said he played outside his whole life when he was a kid."

Tip-ins: Cam Barker practiced Saturday and is OK to play tonight after missing Friday's win over Philadelphia with an undisclosed injury. ... The Wild will "rest" star forward Marian Gaborik, who has missed most of the season with a groin issue. Coach Jacques Lemaire said Gaborik won't play tonight or Monday against Calgary.