The NHL Winter Classic Returns to Wrigley Field on a Tuesday, following a 16-year absence.
The 2024-25 NHL Winter Classic has shifted its date but retained its iconic location.
Mark your calendars for New Year's Eve (5 p.m. ET, TNT, Max, Sportsnet) as the flagship outdoor event is set to take place. Interestingly, this will be the first instance of the Winter Classic being held on New Year's Eve. Yet, the Chicago Blackhawks, known for their love for outdoor games, will be participating for a record-breaking seventh time. Moreover, Wrigley Field, home to the Chicago Cubs, will be the familiar setting for the second time for the Blackhawks.
Reminisce the past with me, fellow hockey enthusiasts. Let's cast our minds back to Jan. 1, 2009, the second-ever Winter Classic. A young Blackhawks team, to their dismay, lost 6-4 to the Detroit Red Wings. The victors included an impressive three-point performance each from Marian Hossa, Henrik Zetterberg, and Jiri Hudler. For Chicago, there were contributions from Martin Havlat and Kris Versteeg, with two points each, while future stars like Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith, and Brent Seabrook managed a single point apiece. Sadly, Patrick Kane could not add to the tally.
The following season was a turning point for the Blackhawks, as they saw a breath of fresh air and managed to end their playoff drought of six seasons. Unbelievably, a year later, in 2010, Kane's overtime goal led the team to their first Stanley Cup victory in 49 years. This streak of success extended to a total of three victories in six years.
As we head into 2023, the Blackhawks will be pinning their hopes on a return to Wrigley, aiming to rekindle the same magic that propelled them to success in the past. Currently, they are struggling with their fourth successive playoff drought. At the time of writing, they are ranked last in the league with another disappointing 8-16-2 record. Following the dismissal of Luke Richardson on Dec. 5, new coach Anders Sorenson managed to raise the team's performance marginally, with a record of 4-7-0.
In stark contrast, their opponents for this year's event, the St. Louis Blues, have experienced better results following their own mid-season coaching change. The Blues were nine games away from a Western Conference playoff spot before Jim Montgomery took over as their coach on Nov. 24. Since then, they have shown significant improvement with a record of 8-5-3, but their victory tally has only improved by one point, and they are still behind their rivals.
Wrigley Field has previously played host to an intense outdoor rivalry, with the Blues emerging victorious in 2017. More than 46,000 spectators witnessed their 4-1 triumph over the Blackhawks, thanks to a two-goal performance from Vladimir Tarasenko and an impressive 22-save performance from Jake Allen.
This year's Winter Classic unfortunately will not feature two of the league's top teams in a nail-biting showdown. Instead, we can look forward to the Rematch of a Regional Rivalry.
The one-of-a-kind atmosphere created by playing at Wrigley Field, Busch Stadium, and Ohio Stadium has always been a special feature of the Winter Classic. This year's move to New Year's Eve presents its unique challenges. For instance, the '2024 Winter Classic' already occurred in Seattle on Jan. 1, resulting in a bit of confusion in branding. But moving away from the crowded college football bowl game schedule on Jan. 1 made perfect sense, allowing both players and fans to celebrate the New Year more fully.
Adding icing to the cake, another outdoor game is scheduled for Mar. 1, 2025, as the Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings face off at Ohio Stadium, Ohio State University. This will be the first time the Blue Jackets compete in an outdoor game in their franchise history, as part of the NHL Stadium Series.
Finally, the NHL will have only one game on Jan. 1, 2025, with the Los Angeles Kings hosting the New Jersey Devils. The Winter Classic will be a significant part of two full days of NHL action, starting with Alex Ovechkin's ongoing pursuit of Wayne Gretzky's all-time goal-scoring record at 12:30 p.m. ET, as the Capitals host the Boston Bruins.
In conclusion, the 2023-24 NHL Winter Classic should witness an exciting match-up between the Blackhawks and the Blues. While the past season has been challenging for both teams, the thrill of competing in an outdoor game, in front of a massive crowd, may invoke a fresh sense of determination in them.
The Columbus Blue Jackets, joining the NHL Stadium Series in 2025, will face the Detroit Red Wings at Ohio Stadium, marking their first outdoor game in franchise history. Connor Bedard, a highly anticipated prospect, might be watching this game, aspiring to make his mark in the NHL. Despite the Blues' current struggles, their fans are excited for the New Year's Eve 2023 match against the Blackhawks at Wrigley Field, hoping for a repeat of their 2017 victory. Jim Montgomery, the Blues' coach, aims to guide his team to success, as they seek to close the gap with their rivals, the Blackhawks and the St. Louis Blues.
