For the first time since 2016 and just the second time since the inception of the Stadium Series in 2014, the once-per-year event will treat hockey fans to two games over the weekend at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
As if outdoor games didn't bring enough of the hype, the games feature divisional and regional rivals with playoff implications as each team fights to secure their spot in the tight Metropolitan Division.
Saturday evening's tilt features the Battle of the Turnpike between the New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia Flyers. Their rivalry dates back to the 1994-95 season, when the Devils defeated the Flyers in the Conference finals and grew in intensity as the teams would meet in the post-season four more times until their last appearance in 2012.
Though the Devils have star power with the likes of Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt and Jack and Luke Hughes, it's the Flyers who currently have the upper hand with a 29-19-7 record under John Tortorella — a full seven points ahead of the Devils (27-22-4).
On Sunday, a different Battle of New York takes to MetLife Stadium — home to both the New York Giants and New York Jets of the NFL — as the Rangers and Islanders take to the ice.
This is the first time the two teams are facing off this season, though the franchises have been embroiled in a bitter rivalry since the Islanders entered the league in 1972.
As we get ready to celebrate the yearly pomp and circumstance that surrounds the Stadium Series, let's take a look at some numbers:
2: Jack and Luke Hughes are the second pair of brothers to suit up in a regular-season NHL outdoor game since former Vancouver Canucks Daniel and Henrik Sedin did it in 2014 at the Heritage Classic in Vancouver. This season, the Devils' Hughes duo has a combined 76 points.
3: The number of first-overall picks that will play this weekend at MetLife Stadium — Nico Hischier (2017) and Jack Hughes (2019) of the Devils plus the Rangers' Alexis Lafreniere (2020).
5: Peter Laviolette will become just the second head coach behind the bench for five outdoor contests. Laviolette coached the Flyers when they faced the Bruins in the 2010 Winter Classic, the Rangers in the 2012 Winter Classic, and in 2020 and 2023 for the Nashville Predators and Washington Capitals, respectively. Now, he will coach the Metropolitan Division-leading Rangers when they face the Islanders.
13: Number of Stanley Cups each team has won, combined. The Rangers and Islanders each have four, the Devils have three and the Flyers have two.
25:48: Time on ice for Islanders defenceman Noah Dobson, who leads all skaters this Stadium Series in TOI and second-overall in the league, behind only Drew Doughty.
85: The sum of the jersey numbers of the Islanders' fourth line: Matt Martin (17), Casey Cizikas (53) and Cal Clutterbuck (15). The trio has been playing together for 11 seasons and was given the nickname "Identity Line" given their tough, defensive and stingy style of play — often considered the best fourth line in hockey.
972: Number of players that have suited up in the NHL's 39 regular-season outdoor games.
1975: The year the Islanders and Rangers first met in the post-season and the unofficial beginning of their intense rivalry. Throughout the '70s, '80s and '90s, the two teams met in the playoffs eight times.
2014: Saturday's game will mark the third outdoor game Tortorella has coached and his first since 2014. Then-coach of the Canucks, Tortorella made waves when he chose to start backup Eddie Lack over starter Roberto Luongo during the Heritage Classic in Vancouver. Just two days later, Luongo was traded back to the Florida Panthers. Two years earlier, he coached the Rangers to a 3-2 victory at the 2012 Winter Classic against, coincidentally, the Flyers.
2026: MetLife Stadium is set to host the final match of the 2026 World Cup, held across various cities in North America.
140,000: Approximate number of fans expected to attend the 2024 Stadium series across Saturday and Sunday. The New Jersey venue has a capacity of 82,000 people.
Watch the all the festivities on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+, starting Saturday at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT and continuing Sunday starting at 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT.
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