ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Winter, Buffalo and Penguins. It's a perfect combination for an outdoor NHL game.

The league is set to announce next week that the Sabres will host the Pittsburgh Penguins in an outdoor game at Ralph Wilson Stadium, home of the Buffalo Bills, on Jan. 1, a person familiar with the event told The Associated Press.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the NHL has not made the announcement official.

The NHL issued a release Thursday saying it will "make a major announcement concerning a special event" during a news conference at the stadium on Monday.

Several media outlets, including The Buffalo News, cited unidentified sources in reporting the planned outdoor game earlier this month.

It will be the league's second outdoor game after the Canadiens beat the Oilers 4-3 in front of 57,167 fans at Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium on Nov. 22, 2003.