Fans cheer during the first period of the NHL Winter Classic hockey game between the Detroit Red Wings and the Chicago Blackhawks at Wrigley Field, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009 in Chicago.

Chicago ? Outside in the elements, the Detroit Red Wings showed they can play the Chicago Blackhawks anywhere, anytime, in any conditions. And still beat them.

Pavel Datsyuk skated through two defenders for a go-ahead score in a three-goal second period, and the Red Wings scored twice in a 17-second span of the third Thursday to rally past the Blackhawks, 6-4, in the Winter Classic at chilly Wrigley Field.

Temperature at faceoff on an overcast day was a very bearable 32 degrees, even though a wind blowing at 18 mph made it a bundle-up day for 40,818 fans at the second oldest baseball park in the major leagues.

“Holy Cow. It’s Cold,” read one sign, using the longtime catch phrase of the late Cubs broadcaster Harry Caray.

The teams used the same locker rooms that the Cubs (Blackhawks) and visitors (Red Wings) use during the baseball season. The players trudging on covered skates through tunnels, up and down steps and across a tarp-like carpet to the rink. The Red Wings’ coaching staff kept their heads warm with fedoras.

“It exceeded my expectations,” said Detroit’s Nicklas Lidstrom, who returned after missing two games because of a sore ankle. “I don’t think the wind or playing outdoors bothered either team.”

Martin Havlat had a goal and two assists to help the Blackhawks go up 3-1 after one period. But the Red Wings showed why they are the defending Stanley Cup champions, rallying to beat the Blackhawks for the fourth straight time this season and second time in less than 48 hours.

Havlat agreed the weather wasn’t much of a factor.

“It was not too bad,” he said. “You could feel it on your toes in the skates, but we were moving and it was pretty warm on the benches.”

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Coffman to have surgery

Columbia, Mo. — All-American tight end Chase Coffman will undergo surgery next week on his injured left foot. Coffman is the most prolific tight end in NCAA history and figures to be the second Missouri player to be drafted after a stellar four-year career.

He hurt his foot on the final play of overtime in the Tigers’ 30-23 Alamo Bowl victory over Northwestern. He is expected to be well enough to participate in the NFL combine in February.

Freeman likely to leave

Kansas City, Mo. — Kansas State quarterback Josh Freeman was expected to announce that he’s skipping his senior season to enter the NFL Draft.

A person with knowledge of Freeman’s decision told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly, the school planned to make a formal announcement today.

Freeman, a 6-foot-6 junior, broke most of Kansas State’s career passing records.

Freeman was the first blue chip recruit signed by Ron Prince, who was fired with three games left this season. Prince had succeeded Bill Snyder when he retired after the 2005 season. Snyder came out of retirement to replace Prince.

Tulsa rewards coach

Tulsa, Okla. — Tulsa coach Todd Graham has agreed to a new 10-year contract that could keep him with the Golden Hurricane through the 2018 season. Terms of the contract were not disclosed by the private university.

Graham, who has coached Tulsa to its first back-to-back 10-win seasons in school history, agreed to the extension only two days after offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn left Tulsa to take the same position at Auburn.

The Golden Hurricane (10-3) will face Ball State (12-1) in the GMAC Bowl on Tuesday.

NFL

Vikings blackout possible

Eden Prairie, Minn. — Plenty of good seats are still available for Minnesota’s playoff game against Philadelphia. The Vikings reported 8,000 tickets remaining at noon New Year’s Day for Sunday’s game against the Eagles. The NFL has granted an extension until 3:30 p.m. today to reach a virtual sellout, but the possibility of a local TV blackout looms.

Gates, Tomlinson ailing

San Diego — Chargers standouts LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates missed a second straight practice Thursday as San Diego continued to prepare for its home wild-card playoff game against the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday night.

Arizona gets extension

Tempe, Ariz. — The NFL has granted a second, final 24-hour extension of its television blackout deadline for the Arizona Cardinals’ wild card playoff game against Atlanta on Saturday.

The team has until 2:30 p.m. today to sell its remaining tickets. A sellout crowd is necessary for the NFL to lift its blackout of the home television market.

The NFL already had extended the deadline 24 hours to 2:30 p.m. on Thursday. In a news release, the team said 3,700 tickets remained.