A new event comes to the NHL calendar on Sunday, Jan. 1, when the Toronto Maple Leafs play host to the Detroit Red Wings at BMO Field in Toronto in the first-ever NHL Centennial Classic™. This rematch of the 2014 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® will help honor the centennial year of the Maple Leafs. On New Year's Day 2014, a record crowd of 105,491 watched Toronto and Detroit rekindle their Original Six rivalry at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich. Snow fell throughout the day, providing the perfect backdrop for a thrilling game, which the Maple Leafs won, 3-2, in a shootout.
The 2017 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® will feature the St. Louis Blues, who will be celebrating their 50th anniversary, and Chicago Blackhawks at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Monday, Jan. 2. It marks the first time the Blues will host the Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® as well as the organization's first-ever appearance in a regular-season outdoor game. The 2014-15 Stanley Cup® champion Blackhawks will be making their fifth appearance in an outdoor game and third appearance in the event; they hosted the 2009 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® at Wrigley Field in Chicago (6-4 L vs. DET) and played in the 2015 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. (3-2 L at WSH).
The 2017 Coors Light Stadium Series™ will shine the light on Pennsylvania when the Pittsburgh Penguins play host to the Philadelphia Flyers at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh on Saturday, Feb. 18. Immediate rivals when they began play in 1967-68, the Penguins and Flyers have met 274 times in the regular season (PIT: 94-143-37 = 225, PHI: 150-86-38 = 338) but this will be the first game between the two contested outdoors. In addition, they have faced off in six playoff series, with Philadelphia holding a 4-2 series advantage, including a win in their most recent meeting in the 2012 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals (4-2). The Penguins were the victors in the only meeting between the teams thus far this season, a 4-3 win on Jan. 21. The clubs will face off three more times in 2015-16, on March 19, April 3 and April 9.
The Penguins and Flyers joined the NHL together as part of the League's six-team 1967 expansion that also included the Blues and Los Angeles Kings. These special outdoor events, together with the Kings hosting the 2017 NHL All-Star Game at STAPLES Center, become part of the celebration and anniversary-themed initiatives.
Additional details relating to the 2017 NHL Centennial Classic™, 2017 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® and 2017 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series™ - including ticketing and broadcasting information, the addition of special events around the games and more - will be released at a future date. Fans can visit NHL.com/events to sign up to receive more information on this and other NHL Events.
The events were officially announced today by Commissioner Bettman during special appearances on Sportsnet and NBCSN.
As previously announced, the 2016 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic™ will feature the Winnipeg Jets and the Edmonton Oilers in a regular-season outdoor game at Investors Group Field in Winnipeg on Sunday, Oct. 23. At the conclusion of the 2016-17 season, a total of 23 Clubs will have participated in the NHL's 22 regular-season outdoor games.
