The NHL will host a pair of Stadium Series games at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey in February, Sportsnet can confirm.
One outdoor game will pit the New York Rangers against the New York Islanders, and the other will see the New Jersey Devils play the Philadelphia Flyers. The games will occur one day apart.
MetLife Stadium was opened in 2010 and is home to the New York Giants and New York Jets of the NFL.
The NHL has three distinct types of outdoor games: the Heritage Classic, the Winter Classic and the Stadium Series.
The Heritage Classic was the first regular-season outdoor game played in modern history and took place at Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium in November 2003 between the Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens. The Heritage Classic has been held only six times and always in Canadian cities. The most recent game was between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres at Hamilton’s Tim Hortons Field, in March 2022.
The first Winter Classic game was played in 2008 at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y., home of the NFL Buffalo Bills, between the Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins. Winter Classic games usually take place in baseball or football (college or NFL) stadiums and have been held 14 times, usually around New Year’s Day. The Boston Bruins have played in three Winter Classic games.
The NHL introduced Stadium Series games in 2014, when four games were held at three venues: Dodger Stadium, Yankee Stadium and Soldier Field. They also take place in baseball or football stadiums, but happen anywhere from late January through early March. The Los Angeles Kings and Pittsburgh Penguins are tied for the most appearances (three) in this series.
The most recent Stadium Series game took place in February at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, N.C., home to the North Carolina State Wolfpack, where the Carolina Hurricanes hosted the Washington Capitals. The games typically have attendance of between 30,000 and 70,000.
