The 2022-23 NHL season is rolling right along. NHL picks are now available for all the top games every week. NHL hockey is usually played indoors, but that isn’t the case in every game during the season as the league continues to look for fun outdoor options.
Getting an NHL game set up to be played outside can be challenging, but the NHL has continued to give it a shot. It all started with what the NHL called the “Winter Classic,” but that has now expanded to additional options as well.
Finding the perfect location for an outdoor game is an essential part of the planning, and the league also needs the weather to cooperate. It has to be cold enough for the ice to stay frozen, and other adverse weather conditions need to stay away.
There is another Winter Classic game scheduled to take place in 2023, and it will feature two of the most storied franchises in the Eastern Conference. The Boston Bruins will host the Pittsburgh Penguins at Fenway Park on Monday, January 2.
Typically the league likes to play the Winter Classic on New Year’s Day, but that isn’t the case this year, with that date being on a Sunday. This will be the second time that the Winter Classic has been played at Fenway Park, and Boston has already played in four outdoor games.
This will be the 15th anniversary of the first Winter Classic and fans continue to show up in waves to the outdoor games every year. Pittsburgh is another team that is no stranger to playing outdoors, as the league always tries to feature the most popular teams.
The 2022 Winter Classic was played in Minneapolis, and it was the St. Louis Blues that picked up a dominant 6-4 win over the Minnesota Wild. It’s unclear who will be featured in the 2024 game, as the league usually doesn’t announce the matchup until the middle of the previous year.
Stadium Series Set for February
The Winter Classic is always the biggest draw for outdoor games, but it’s not the only option out there. The Stadium Series is another one that has started to gain some traction, and one of these matchups is taking place this year.
The NHL recently announced that it would be the Carolina Hurricanes hosting the Washington Capitals in the latest version of the Stadium Series. This game is set to take place at Carter-Finley Stadium on North Carolina State’s campus.
The Hurricanes will be playing in their first-ever outdoor game, and there are now just three teams that have never played outdoors. Washington is no stranger to playing in big games outdoors, and they come into this game with a three-game winning streak.
This game is set to take place on February 18 and will be played under the lights at Carter-Finley Stadium. This matchup will feature two of the Eastern Conference favorites in what should be a high-scoring affair.
NHL Standings Entering December
Now that the calendar has flipped to December, the playoff races throughout the league are really going to start heating up. The Colorado Avalanche entered the year as a significant betting favorite to win the Stanley Cup, but things haven’t been as easy this season.
You must look down the list to find the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference standings. The Vegas Golden Knights entered December on top of the West, but plenty of other teams are still in the mix.
Life at the top of the Eastern Conference is also crowded, and a pretty incredible team is leading the way. Entering December, the New Jersey Devils were at the top of the Eastern Conference, and the Boston Bruins were with them.
Standings in the NHL can change quickly, and these teams aren’t safe by any means. As the season progresses, you will see that every game comes with that much more meaning and importance.