The NHL later this week will confirm that the Rangers will play the Flyers in the next Winter Classic in Philadelphia.

The annual outdoor game will be played in Citizens Bank Park, the home of the Phillies on Jan. 2, because Sunday, Jan. 1, is scheduled to be the final week of the NFL’s regular season.

The location of the game and the teams involved will not be confirmed until the NHL’s 2011-12 schedule is released, which could be tomorrow.

Previous Winter Classics have been played in Orchard Park, N.Y., Chicago, Boston and Pittsburgh.