The 2012 Winter Classic at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia

The National Hockey League (NHL) first held a regular season outdoor ice hockey game in 2003, and since 2008 the league has scheduled at least one per year.

The NHL primarily uses three brands for outdoor games: the Heritage Classic, Winter Classic, and Stadium Series. The 2003 Heritage Classic between the Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens was the first outdoor regular season game in NHL history. The Heritage Classic has since been held infrequently, featuring match-ups solely between Canadian teams, until the Buffalo Sabres make their appearance in the 2022 Heritage Classic. The annual Winter Classic, held on New Year's Day in the United States, began with the 2008 game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Buffalo Sabres. The NHL then started the Stadium Series in 2014 for additional outdoor games. The number of Stadium Series games has varied per season (four in 2014, only one in 2015, two in 2016, and one per season since 2017). Both the Winter Classic and the Stadium series featured match-ups solely between American teams until the Toronto Maple Leafs' appearances in both the 2014 Winter Classic and the 2018 Stadium Series.

To celebrate the NHL's 100 year anniversary in 2017, the league scheduled two special outdoor games: the NHL Centennial Classic between Detroit and Toronto on January 1 (through season 2016–2017) to kick off the year, and then the NHL 100 Classic on December 16 (during 2017–2018 season) between Montreal and the Ottawa Senators to commemorate the league's first game, having taken place exactly 100 years before, between the same contenders. The four teams involved in said honorific matches constitute four of the league's Original Six members. Then in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the league held the NHL Outdoors at Lake Tahoe, two outdoor games played without spectators.

Prior to 2003, NHL teams had been involved in at least three outdoor exhibitions. Two of these came in the 1950s and were effectively informal scrimmages; in 1954, the Detroit Red Wings visited Marquette Branch Prison and played a match against the prison inmates in a fenced-off, open air ice rink, while in 1956, the Boston Bruins played a game against several local teams in Bay Roberts, Newfoundland. In neither case was a formal game structure maintained or score kept, as the NHL teams hopelessly outmatched the hosts. In 1991, the Los Angeles Kings and New York Rangers played a pre-season game outside Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, in the first officially sanctioned outdoor NHL contest.

The NHL's outdoor series have proven wildly popular with fans and have led to numerous attendance records. The 2003 Heritage Classic drew 57,167 fans, a league record that stood until 71,217 fans in Buffalo set another NHL record in the inaugural Winter Classic in 2008. The 2014 Winter Classic, between Toronto and the Detroit Red Wings drew 105,491 fans, the current NHL record.

History

The first outdoor game on record to feature an NHL team was attempted on February 2, 1954.[1] The Detroit Red Wings played an exhibition game on an outdoor ice surface, in 21 °F (−6 °C) degree weather, against the Marquette Pirates, an athletic club composed of inmates at Michigan's Marquette Branch Prison. The game, and the Pirates club, was allegedly organized as a way for Red Wings manager Jack Adams to make good with two convicted mafia members incarcerated at the prison. By the end of the first period alone, the Red Wings had amassed an 18–0 score against the prisoners; score keeping was abandoned after that point and the rest of the game effectively became an informal scrimmage.[2]

Two years after the 1954 prison match, the Boston Bruins went on a postseason barnstorm of Atlantic Canada in April 1956, which included a stop in Bay Roberts, Newfoundland. On April 9, 1956, the Bruins played an exhibition game against teams from the Conception Bay North Hockey League on an outdoor artificial ice surface, under similar rules to those of the 1954 prison match. Four teams each played one period against the Bruins who dominated the game. Only one goal was scored on Terry Sawchuk by the local teams.[3]

During their time at the Civic Arena, the Pittsburgh Penguins could have theoretically hosted an outdoor NHL game due to the arena having a retractable roof. (The arena was originally built for the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, who only stayed at the arena until 1973.) However, the roof was always closed during hockey games with both the Penguins and their AHL predecessors, the Pittsburgh Hornets, whom the Penguins replaced upon the 1967 NHL expansion. The roof was permanently closed after 1994 when the Penguins replaced the center scoreboard.[4]

The first outdoor game between two NHL teams (and the first played to completion) was an official pre-season match-up on September 27, 1991. The game took place in the parking lot of Caesars Palace[5] in Las Vegas, and featured the Los Angeles Kings and the New York Rangers.[6] The process of keeping the ice cool in the desert heat required three times as much coolant as a standard NHL rink.[7] There were few problems despite temperatures that reached 95 °F (35 °C) during the day and a game time temperature of 80 °F (27 °C).[7] During the contest grasshoppers began to jump onto the ice, where they would freeze or drown in water used to maintain the ice, and by the end of the second period the ice was littered with the bugs.[6] Nearly 14,000 fans watched the Kings defeat the Rangers 5–2.[8] From 1997 to 2016, the Los Angeles Kings returned to Las Vegas to play an annual indoors preseason game as part of the Frozen Fury series. In 2016, Las Vegas obtained its own NHL franchise and the fury series was moved to Salt Lake City, Utah.

The first regular season outdoor game in the history of the NHL took place on November 22, 2003, at Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium, when the Edmonton Oilers played the Montreal Canadiens in the 2003 Heritage Classic.[9] The Oilers had suggested the idea of hosting an outdoor game as early as the mid-1980s,[10] but the genesis of the 2003 event was the "Cold War" outdoor game played two years prior between Michigan State University and the University of Michigan.[11]

The inaugural Winter Classic was played at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo, New York

In 2005, NBC Sports Executive VP Jon Miller then pitched the concept an annual outdoor game as a television event to the NHL, "but they didn't find the concept workable."[12] In December 2006, Miller found an ally in then-league Executive VP/Business & Media John Collins, who embraced the idea.[13][14] This led to the inaugural Winter Classic game on January 1, 2008, with the Pittsburgh Penguins visiting the Buffalo Sabres at Ralph Wilson Stadium.[9]

On May 1, 2013, the NHL announced that the Chicago Blackhawks would host the Pittsburgh Penguins at Soldier Field in Chicago on March 1, 2014, as part of a new series of outdoor games called the NHL Stadium Series.[15] By the end of May 2013, the NHL had scheduled a record six outdoor NHL games for the 2013–14 season: one Winter Classic, one Heritage Classic, and four Stadium Series games.

In scheduling outdoor games in the New York metropolitan area that feature the New York Rangers (first occurring during two of the four 2014 Stadium Series games, and subsequently the 2018 Winter Classic), the team has always been designated as the "away" team. This is to maintain the property tax-exempt status of the Rangers' home arena, Madison Square Garden (MSG). The tax exemption stipulates that it only applies if the Rangers do not "cease playing" home games at MSG, generally interpreted as playing any "home" game outside of MSG.[16][17] By designating the Rangers as the "away" team and Buffalo as the "home" team in the 2018 Winter Classic at Citi Field in New York City, it would save MSG from paying more than $40 million in property taxes.[18]

Up until 2013, NHL's outdoor games were held exclusively in Canada and in the Midwest and Northeast United States. That changed in the 2014 Stadium Series when the Los Angeles Kings became the first West Coast team to host a regular season outdoor game, facing their in-city rival Anaheim Ducks at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on January 25.[19] The San Jose Sharks followed suit, hosting their archrival Kings in the 2015 NHL Stadium Series at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara.[20] The first outdoor game to take place in a Southern state took place in the 2020 Winter Classic when the Dallas Stars hosted the Nashville Predators at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.[21]

The 2019 NHL Stadium Series was held at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

In 2016, the Penguins and the Philadelphia Flyers worked out an agreement to play a home-and-home series of outdoors games.[22] The two archrivals played the 2017 Stadium Series game at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, and then played the 2019 Stadium Series game at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. The two teams had also discussed playing a neutral site game at Beaver Stadium at State College, Pennsylvania, but this did not materialize, due mainly to concerns about Beaver Stadium's plumbing being unable to withstand an event in winter[23][22] On March 6, 2016, the NHL officially announced that the Jets will host the Oilers in the 2016 Heritage Classic during the 2016–17 NHL season, held in October.[24]

To celebrate the NHL's 100th year in 2017, the league held two special outdoor games. The first, branded as the Centennial Classic, between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs, was held on January 1 (during the 2016–17 NHL season) to kick off the year.[25] The second, branded as the NHL 100 Classic, was held on December 16 (during the 2017–18 season) between the Montreal Canadiens and the Ottawa Senators.[26]

When the 2018 NHL Stadium Series at Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium at the U.S. Naval Academy was announced, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said that it was the start of a unique partnership with the U.S. military in which the league plans to host outdoor games at military service academies around the United States.[27] The 2020 NHL Stadium Series was held at Falcon Stadium at the U.S. Air Force Academy on February 15, 2020.[28]

In 2021, the NHL announced the creation of a two-game series, the NHL Outdoors at Lake Tahoe, to function as the replacement for the cancelled outdoor games of the 2020–21 season.[29] In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, fans would not be allowed at the games and instead the games would serve as a made-for-television event intended to simulate pond hockey.[30]

Rule differences

The NHL outdoor games have additional weather-related rules, including:[31][32][33]

  • At the discretion of the NHL Commissioner, a game may be subject to temporary stoppages due to unplayable weather conditions. The period and game format may then be modified to accommodate those conditions.
  • If there are high winds or other weather conditions that may give the team at one end an unfair advantage, a "hard whistle" will be signaled at the 10:00 minute mark of the third period, and then at the 2:30 minute mark of overtime (if necessary), stopping play immediately and the teams will switch sides.
  • During shootouts, both teams may choose to defend the same goal.
  • If a game is stopped permanently once two periods have been played, it can then be declared a completed official game. If the score is still tied however, the teams will still hold a shootout, whether at the same outdoor rink or at a different venue at a later date.

The 2008 NHL Winter Classic was the first game to use "hard whistle" stoppages during the third period and overtime, and to have the teams defend the same goal during the shootout.[34]

The 2011 NHL Winter Classic was delayed from its original 1:00 p.m. start time to 8:00 p.m. due to warm temperatures and rain in the forecast.[35] The start time of the 2012 NHL Winter Classic was also delayed two hours due to the sun hitting the ice.[36] Sunlight also adversely affected the ice conditions of the first game of the NHL Outdoors at Lake Tahoe, causing the start of the second period to be delayed for several hours. The start time of the second Lake Tahoe game was also delayed because of the conditions.[37]

Hosting statistics

The 2019 Heritage Classic at Mosaic Stadium in Regina, Saskatchewan, was the first Heritage Classic held outside the locales the participants are based in

As of January 2024:

  • 29 of the NHL's 32 teams have participated in an outdoor regular season game. This leaves Arizona, Columbus, and Florida, as the only teams that have never been selected.
  • 18 teams have played more than one game.
  • Chicago and Pittsburgh are tied for the most appearances (6).
  • 22 metropolitan areas (out of 29 represented among the league's 32 teams) have hosted outdoor regulation games. In addition to the six metropolitan areas represented by teams that have not played in any outdoor games, Montreal has played in outdoor games but has yet to host any themselves (New Jersey has also not yet hosted a home game in its home state, although MetLife Stadium is the site of the upcoming 2024 NHL Stadium Series).
  • New York City, Massachusetts and Chicago/Northern Indiana have each hosted three games. Maryland–DC, Colorado, Pittsburgh, and Winnipeg/Eastern Prairies have each hosted twice.
  • Yankee Stadium, Fenway Park, Heinz Field, and Commonwealth Stadium will have each hosted two games.
  • In the 2019 Heritage Classic, Saskatchewan (a province that has been a longshot candidate for NHL expansion for decades) became the first fully neutral-site territory to host an outdoor regular season game, with Winnipeg as the designated home team (their second).
  • During the 2021 NHL Outdoors at Lake Tahoe when two games were played, Vegas played in the first contest, where Lake Tahoe is considered part of Vegas' home territory.) The site was thus a fully neutral-site territory during the second game between Philadelphia and Boston.

Cancelled and postponed games

The Dallas Stars had originally been scheduled to play a stadium game at Houston's Reliant Stadium during their 2011 pre-season, but this game was ultimately cancelled.[38][39][40]

The 2013 NHL Winter Classic was originally scheduled to be contested at Michigan Stadium between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs. Due to the 2012–13 NHL lockout resulting in an abbreviated 2012–13 season, this Winter Classic matchup at Michigan Stadium was postponed and would be held during the following season instead.[41][42][43][44][45]

The Winnipeg Jets announced in 2013 that they had reached an agreement with the NHL to host a fourth Heritage Classic at Investors Group Field, the home of the CFL's Winnipeg Blue Bombers, which they hoped to hold during the team's fifth anniversary in 2015–16.[46] However, a disagreement occurred between the NHL and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers over the game's exact date: the league wanted it held in December 2015 while the football team became concerned that this date was too close to the 103rd Grey Cup being held at the stadium on November 29.[47] In January 2015, the Jets announced that they could not reach an agreement to finalize a date for the Heritage Classic during the 2015–16 season and that they were now looking for a new date during the 2016–17 season.[48] On March 6, 2016, the NHL officially announced that the Jets would host the Oilers in the 2016 Heritage Classic during the 2016–17 NHL season, held in October.[24]

For the 2020–21 season, the 2021 NHL Winter Classic was originally planned to take place at Target Field between the St. Louis Blues and the Minnesota Wild, and the Carolina Hurricanes were scheduled to host a Stadium Series game at Carter–Finley Stadium on February 20, 2021. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic delaying the conclusion of the previous season to September and postponing the start of a shortened 2020–21 season to January, as well as uncertainty about fan attendance because of local health restrictions, the two events were postponed to 2022 at the earliest; an opponent for the Hurricanes was not yet determined at the time the postponement was made.[49][50] On June 28, 2021, the league confirmed that the Blues and the Wild would play in the 2022 Winter Classic at Target Field, but the Hurricanes asked the league to postpone their outdoor game for another year to at least the 2022–23 season "to assure a safe environment."[51][52] The Hurricanes would become the first warm-climate Eastern Conference team to host an outdoor game.[53]

List of NHL outdoor games

Fireworks after the end of the 2011 Heritage Classic, held at McMahon Stadium in Calgary, Alberta. The game was the second Heritage Classic held by the NHL.
The 2014 Winter Classic was held at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The game saw over 105,000 people in attendance.
The second game of the 2016 Stadium Series was held at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado

Bolded teams denote winners

Date Event Site Primary team at venue Away team Home team Score Attendance
February 2, 1954 Exhibition Game Marquette Branch Prison,
Marquette, Michigan		 Marquette Prison Pirates[54] Detroit Red Wings Marquette Prison Pirates[55] — 600
April 9, 1956 Conception Bay Sports Arena,
Bay Roberts, Newfoundland		 Local Conception Bay North Hockey League teams Boston Bruins Bay Roberts, Brigus,
Shearstown, Coley's Point
(1 period each)[56]		 — —
September 27, 1991 Caesars Palace,
Las Vegas, Nevada		 — New York Rangers Los Angeles Kings 5–2 13,007
November 22, 2003 Heritage Classic Commonwealth Stadium,
Edmonton, Alberta		 Edmonton Eskimos (CFL) Montreal Canadiens Edmonton Oilers 4–3 57,167
January 1, 2008 Winter Classic Ralph Wilson Stadium,
Orchard Park, New York		 Buffalo Bills (NFL) Pittsburgh Penguins Buffalo Sabres 2–1

(SO)

 71,217
January 1, 2009 Wrigley Field,
Chicago		 Chicago Cubs (MLB) Detroit Red Wings Chicago Blackhawks 6–4 40,818
January 1, 2010 Fenway Park,
Boston		 Boston Red Sox (MLB) Philadelphia Flyers Boston Bruins 2–1 (OT) 38,112
January 1, 2011 Heinz Field,
Pittsburgh		 Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL) Washington Capitals Pittsburgh Penguins 3–1 68,111
February 20, 2011 Heritage Classic McMahon Stadium,
Calgary, Alberta		 Calgary Stampeders (CFL) Montreal Canadiens Calgary Flames 4–0 41,022
January 2, 2012 Winter Classic Citizens Bank Park,
Philadelphia		 Philadelphia Phillies (MLB) New York Rangers Philadelphia Flyers 3–2 46,967
January 1, 2014 Michigan Stadium,
Ann Arbor, Michigan		 Michigan Wolverines (NCAA) Toronto Maple Leafs Detroit Red Wings 3–2 (SO) 105,491
January 25, 2014[57] Stadium Series Dodger Stadium,
Los Angeles		 Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB) Anaheim Ducks Los Angeles Kings 3–0 54,099
January 26, 2014[58] Yankee Stadium,
New York City		 New York Yankees (MLB) New York Rangers New Jersey Devils 7–3 50,105
January 29, 2014[58] New York Islanders 2–1 50,027
March 1, 2014[59] Soldier Field,
Chicago		 Chicago Bears (NFL) Pittsburgh Penguins Chicago Blackhawks 5–1 62,921[60]
March 2, 2014[59]† Heritage Classic BC Place,
Vancouver		 BC Lions (CFL) Ottawa Senators Vancouver Canucks 4–2 54,194
January 1, 2015[59] Winter Classic Nationals Park,
Washington, D.C.		 Washington Nationals (MLB) Chicago Blackhawks Washington Capitals 3–2 42,832
February 21, 2015 Stadium Series Levi's Stadium,
Santa Clara, California		 San Francisco 49ers (NFL) Los Angeles Kings San Jose Sharks 2–1 70,205
January 1, 2016 Winter Classic Gillette Stadium,
Foxborough, Massachusetts		 New England Patriots (NFL) Montreal Canadiens Boston Bruins 5–1 67,246
February 21, 2016 Stadium Series TCF Bank Stadium,
Minneapolis		 Minnesota Golden Gophers (NCAA) Chicago Blackhawks Minnesota Wild 6–1 50,426
February 27, 2016 Coors Field,
Denver, Colorado		 Colorado Rockies (MLB) Detroit Red Wings Colorado Avalanche 5–3 50,095
October 23, 2016 Heritage Classic Investors Group Field,
Winnipeg, Manitoba		 Winnipeg Blue Bombers (CFL) Edmonton Oilers Winnipeg Jets 3–0 33,240
January 1, 2017 Centennial Classic BMO Field,
Toronto		 Toronto Argonauts (CFL) Detroit Red Wings Toronto Maple Leafs 5–4 (OT) 40,148[61][62][63]
January 2, 2017 Winter Classic Busch Stadium,
St. Louis, Missouri		 St. Louis Cardinals (MLB) Chicago Blackhawks St. Louis Blues 4–1 46,556
February 25, 2017 Stadium Series Heinz Field,
Pittsburgh		 Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL) Philadelphia Flyers Pittsburgh Penguins 4–2 67,318
December 16, 2017 NHL 100 Classic TD Place Stadium,
Ottawa, Ontario		 Ottawa Redblacks (CFL) Montreal Canadiens Ottawa Senators 3-0 33,959
January 1, 2018 Winter Classic Citi Field,
New York City		 New York Mets (MLB) New York Rangers Buffalo Sabres 3–2 (OT) 41,821
March 3, 2018 Stadium Series Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium,
Annapolis, Maryland		 Navy Midshipmen (NCAA) Toronto Maple Leafs Washington Capitals 5-2 29,516
January 1, 2019 Winter Classic Notre Dame Stadium,
Notre Dame, Indiana		 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (NCAA) Boston Bruins Chicago Blackhawks 4-2 76,126
February 23, 2019 Stadium Series Lincoln Financial Field,
Philadelphia		 Philadelphia Eagles (NFL) Pittsburgh Penguins Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 (OT) 69,620
October 26, 2019 Heritage Classic Mosaic Stadium,
Regina, Saskatchewan		 Saskatchewan Roughriders (CFL) Calgary Flames Winnipeg Jets 2-1 (OT) 33,518
January 1, 2020 Winter Classic Cotton Bowl Stadium,
Dallas, Texas		 Red River Showdown (NCAA) Nashville Predators Dallas Stars 2-4 85,630
February 15, 2020 Stadium Series Falcon Stadium,
Air Force Academy, Colorado		 Air Force Falcons (NCAA) Los Angeles Kings Colorado Avalanche 3-1 43,574
February 20, 2021 NHL Outdoors at Lake Tahoe Edgewood Tahoe Resort,
Stateline, Nevada		 American Century Championship (golf) Vegas Golden Knights Colorado Avalanche 3-2 N/A
February 21, 2021 Philadelphia Flyers Boston Bruins 7-3 N/A
January 1, 2022§ Winter Classic Target Field,
Minneapolis		 Minnesota Twins (MLB) St. Louis Blues Minnesota Wild 6-4 38,519
February 26, 2022 Stadium Series Nissan Stadium,
Nashville, Tennessee[51]		 Tennessee Titans (NFL) Tampa Bay Lightning Nashville Predators 3-2 68,619
March 13, 2022 Heritage Classic Tim Hortons Field,
Hamilton, Ontario		 Hamilton Tiger-Cats (CFL) Toronto Maple Leafs Buffalo Sabres 2-5 26,119
January 2, 2023 Winter Classic Fenway Park,
Boston		 Boston Red Sox (MLB) Pittsburgh Penguins Boston Bruins 1-2 39,243[64]
February 18, 2023§ Stadium Series Carter–Finley Stadium,
Raleigh, North Carolina[51]		 NC State Wolfpack (NCAA) Washington Capitals Carolina Hurricanes 1-4 56,961
October 29, 2023 Heritage Classic Commonwealth Stadium,
Edmonton, Alberta		 Edmonton Elks (CFL) Calgary Flames Edmonton Oilers 2-5 55,411
January 1, 2024 Winter Classic T-Mobile Park,
Seattle		 Seattle Mariners (MLB) Vegas Golden Knights Seattle Kraken 0-3 47,313
February 17, 2024 Stadium Series MetLife Stadium,
East Rutherford, New Jersey		 New York Giants and New York Jets (NFL) Philadelphia Flyers New Jersey Devils TBD TBD
February 18, 2024 New York Rangers New York Islanders TBD TBD

† Due to rain being forecast, the BC Place retractable roof was kept closed during the game.[65]

§ The game was originally scheduled for 2021, but it was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Outdoor games by team

Skaters with the Chicago Blackhawks warming up prior to the 2015 Winter Classic. The Blackhawks have participated in six outdoor games.
Team Number of
appearances		 'Home'
appearances		 'Visitor'
appearances		 Appearances Wins Losses
Anaheim Ducks 1 0 1 2014 1 0
Arizona Coyotes 0 — — — — —
Boston Bruins 5 4 1 2010, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2023 4 1
Buffalo Sabres 3 2 1 2008, 2018, 2022 1 2
Calgary Flames 3 1 2 2011, 2019, 2023 1 2
Carolina Hurricanes 1 1 — 2023 1 0
Chicago Blackhawks 6 3 3 2009, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019 1 5
Colorado Avalanche 3 3 0 2016, 2020, 2021 1 2
Columbus Blue Jackets 0 — — — — —
Dallas Stars 1 1 0 2020 1 0
Detroit Red Wings 4 1 3 2009, 2014, 2016, 2017 2 2
Edmonton Oilers 3 2 1 2003, 2016, 2023 2 1
Florida Panthers 0 — — — — —
Los Angeles Kings 3 1 2 2014, 2015, 2020 2 1
Minnesota Wild 2 2 0 2016, 2022 1 1
Montreal Canadiens 4 0 4 2003, 2011, 2016, 2017 2 2
Nashville Predators 2 1 1 2020, 2022 0 2
New Jersey Devils 2 2 0 2014, 2024 0 1
New York Islanders 2 2 0 2014, 2024 0 1
New York Rangers 5 ‡ 5 2012, 2014 (2 games), 2018, 2024 4 0
Ottawa Senators 2 1 1 2014, 2017 2 0
Philadelphia Flyers 6 2 4 2010, 2012, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2024 1 4
Pittsburgh Penguins 6 2 4 2008, 2011, 2014, 2017, 2019, 2023 2 4
San Jose Sharks 1 1 0 2015 0 1
Seattle Kraken 1 1 0 2024 1 0
St. Louis Blues 2 1 1 2017, 2022 2 0
Tampa Bay Lightning 1 0 1 2022 1 0
Toronto Maple Leafs 4 2 2 2014, 2017, 2018, 2022 2 2
Vancouver Canucks 1 1 0 2014 0 1
Vegas Golden Knights 2 0 2 2021, 2024 0 2
Washington Capitals 4 2 2 2011, 2015, 2018, 2023 3 1
Winnipeg Jets 2 2 0 2016, 2019 1 1

This table excludes exhibition games with non-NHL opponents (such as those in 1954 and 1956) and pre-season games (such as the one in 1991).

‡ The Rangers were designated as the visiting team for the three games held in New York City to comply with a property tax exemption for Madison Square Garden that requires the Rangers to play all of their home games at the arena.

Italics indicate a future outdoor game.

References

  1. ↑ "Detroit Red Wings Head for Prison", The Milwaukee Journal, February 2, 1954, pg. 13
  2. ↑ "Red Wings Played Prison Football Team In 1954". GreatestHockeyLegends.com. March 24, 2010. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
  3. ↑ Archived 2015-04-02 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Home Sweet Dome". Pittsburgh Magazine. 1970-05-02. Retrieved 2013-12-23.
  5. ↑ Springer, Steve (August 27, 1991). "Ice in Desert? It's No Mirage Hockey: Kings, Rangers play in Caesars Palace parking lot tonight". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 24, 2010.
  6. 1 2 Huskey, Melody (December 31, 2008). "Kings No Stranger To Outdoor Game". Archived from the original on October 1, 2011. Retrieved November 24, 2010.
  7. 1 2 Thomas, Robert (August 29, 1991). "1991–1992 N.F.L. SEASON; Gamble Works: Rangers Play In Las Vegas". The New York Times. Retrieved November 24, 2010.
  8. ↑ "Save the Date – Frozen Fury XIII – OCT. 2, 2010 Take A Look Back at the history of Frozen Fury". Retrieved November 24, 2010.
  9. 1 2 Caurchidi, Sam (January 3, 2012). "How the Winter Classic snowballed". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved January 7, 2012.
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  13. ↑ Brink, Bill. "Winter Classic is a cool concept", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, December 26, 2010
  14. ↑ Dowbiggen, Bruce. "How hockey found its signature moment", The Globe and Mail, December 30, 2010
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  46. ↑ Lawless, Gary (2013-12-10). "Winnipeg lands Heritage Classic". Winnipeg Free Press. p. D3. Retrieved 2013-12-10.
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  49. ↑ "NHL postpones Winter Classic, All-Star Weekend for this season". National Hockey League. 2020-10-23. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
  50. ↑ "2021 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series Game Postponed". Carolina Hurricanes. 2020-12-23.
  51. 1 2 3 "Blues-Wild Winter Classic in Minneapolis set for Jan. 1; All-Star Game to Vegas". The Athletic. June 28, 2021. A source said the Carolina Hurricanes, whose 2021 Stadium Series game in Raleigh, N.C., was postponed in December, deferred their outdoor game to the 2022–23 season.
  52. ↑ "Minnesota's Target Field to host 2022 NHL Winter Classic". Sportsnet. June 28, 2021.
  53. ↑ "Hurricanes to host 2021 NHL Stadium Series at N.C. State" (Press release). NHL.com. February 15, 2020. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  54. ↑ "Wings' first outdoor game was in prison". Redwings.nhl.com. Retrieved 2013-12-23.
  55. ↑ "Wings' first outdoor game was in prison". Redwings.nhl.com. Retrieved 2013-12-23.
  56. ↑ "1956 Boston Bruins tour". NLHHS. Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
  57. ↑ "Dodger Stadium to host Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks in January". NHL.com. Retrieved 2013-12-23.
  58. 1 2 "Stadium Series New York event to feature Islanders, Devils and Rangers at Yankee Stadium". NHL.com. Retrieved 2013-12-23.
  59. 1 2 3 "Blackhawks to host Penguins outdoors as part of Stadium Series". NHL.com. Retrieved 2013-12-23.
  60. ↑ "Jonathan Toews, Blackhawks beat Penguins at snowy Soldier Field". espn.go.com. 2 March 2014. Retrieved 2014-03-02.
  61. ↑ Kevin, McGran (2017-01-01). "Overtime in Centennial Classic? Naturally". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2018-06-23.
  62. ↑ "Game Summary". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2018-06-22.
  63. ↑ "Game HQ". ESPN. Retrieved 2017-01-01.
  64. ↑ "Game Summary".
  65. ↑ Talmazan, Yuliya (March 2, 2014). "BC Place roof kept closed for the Heritage Classic". Global News. Retrieved August 7, 2021.

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