ESPN.com: Cross Checks Blog

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NHL ice guru Dan Craig and his crew are working overtime to get the outdoor rink ready at Heinz Field for Saturday's Winter Classic (Capitals-Penguins, 1 p.m. ET).

The league crew has been in Pittsburgh since Thursday night. Here are some photos from the past few days:

After Thursday night's Steelers game, the NHL moved into Heinz Field and starting laying the foundation for the Winter Classic rink.

Workers put down the base level for the rink on Christmas Eve.

The crew continued to work into the wee hours of Christmas Eve night amid frigid temps.

Refrigeration pipes were brought in as part of the process. With the pipes keeping the ice surface at a lower temperature, the game-time outdoor temp could be as high as 65 degrees and the Winter Classic would play on.

The boards go up!

Craig gives the rink the initial spray-down on Christmas Day.

The rink as of Sunday.