Since the first NHL Winter Classic in Buffalo in 2008, the league knew it had a goldmine on its hands. The first rendition of the annual New Year’s Day outdoor game couldn’t have gone any better. The Penguins and Sabres game came down to an exciting shootout finish, the snow coming down during the game perfected the outdoor feel, and one of the (if not the) biggest superstars in the game at the time delivered the winning goal. Ever since, the NHL has been hoping to recreate the magic they made in Buffalo, New York thirteen years ago.
The NHL has now played 30 regular season outdoor games since that first Winter Classic.