When it comes to the sport of hockey, there’s just something special about playing outdoors. For many Canadians, it brings back fond childhood memories of pond hockey or after-school shinny with friends. It’s that type of nostalgia that helped make the NHL’s outdoor games a hit with players and fans alike.
The NHL’s outdoor regular season games began in 2003 and the concept has quickly grown into one of hockey’s most popular traditions. With the league just announcing that the Heritage Classic will return in 2026 with a Canadiens-Jets matchup at Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg, we decided to take a look back at some of the best outdoor games in NHL history.
From the Heritage Classic to the Winter Classic to the Stadium Series, there have been a number of memorable outdoor performances over the past two decades. So grab your stick, lace up your skates and get ready to revisit the five greatest outdoor games in NHL history.
Honourable Mention: 2019 Winter Classic: Blackhawks vs. Bruins (Notre Dame Stadium)
With one of the more memorable backdrops in Winter Classic history, this 2019 New Year’s Day matchup at Notre Dame Stadium is worthy of an honourable mention. Taking place between a pair of Original Six franchises, the game seamlessly blended hockey tradition with the prestige and history of Notre Dame. Brad Marchand scored twice and goaltender Tuukka Rask turned in a standout performance as the Bruins defeated the Blackhawks 4-2 in front of 76,126 fans. Beyond the final score, the game reinforced the Winter Classic as a marquee New Year’s Day event.
5. 2014 Stadium Series: Rangers vs. Islanders (Yankee Stadium)
As one of the most iconic venues in American sports, Yankee Stadium was the perfect location to host an outdoor NHL game. Part of a two-game Stadium Series (the Rangers and Devils played two days earlier), the Rangers and Islanders gave New Yorkers an unforgettable hockey experience in “the house that Ruth built.” With the Manhattan skyline in the background, Henrik Lundqvist delivered a vintage performance, outlasting Islanders goaltender Evgeni Nabokov and guiding the Blueshirts to a 2-1 win. It was an epic showdown between two New York franchises and helped inject some life back into this once-heated rivalry.
4. 2017 Centennial Classic: Maple Leafs vs. Red Wings (BMO Field)
As part of Toronto’s centennial season in 2017, the Maple Leafs hosted an outdoor game versus Detroit at BMO Field. While the attendance (40,818) wasn’t as big as some other outdoor games, this Original Six matchup delivered the goods on the ice. Toronto was up 4-1 with under eight minutes to go before Detroit stormed back with three straight goals, including the game-tying goal by Anthony Mantha with just two seconds remaining. Luckily for the Maple Leafs fans in attendance, Auston Matthews scored his second goal of the game in overtime, lifting Toronto to a thrilling 5-4 overtime win.
3. 2014 Stadium Series: Kings vs. Ducks (Dodger Stadium)
The NHL decided to skip the snow and cold for this one, opting to play in the warm California sun instead. Hosted at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, it was the first warm-weather game in league history and featured the LA Kings and Anaheim Ducks. It wasn’t easy to host an NHL game in such warm conditions, but the league engineered an elaborate refrigeration system to maintain ice quality for the players. While the game wasn’t particularly close, with the Ducks winning 3-0, it was praised as one of the NHL’s boldest and most innovative outdoor events. Watching a hockey game with palm trees in the background gave fans a unique experience and proved that hockey can thrive in a non-traditional climate.
2. 2014 Winter Classic: Red Wings vs. Maple Leafs (Michigan Stadium)
In yet another memorable outdoor game from 2014, the Red Wings and Maple Leafs faced off at Michigan Stadium, home of the Wolverines. The game took place under heavy snowfall, creating stunning visuals and a storybook setting for this Winter Classic. Playing in “The Big House”, the NHL broke its all-time attendance record with 105,491 fans, a mark that still stands to this day. The action on the ice was equally impressive, with Toronto and Detroit battling neck-and-neck through regulation and overtime. Toronto ultimately prevailed with a 3-2 shootout victory, and the game went down as one of the most-watched Winter Classics of all time.
1. 2003 Heritage Classic – Canadiens vs. Oilers (Commonwealth Stadium)
For the top spot on our list, we have to go back to 2003 for the NHL’s first-ever regular season outdoor game. This all-Canadian matchup between Montreal and Edmonton took place in brutally cold conditions, with the wind chill near –30°C at the time of puck drop. More than 20 years later, the image of goaltender Jose Theodore playing with a Habs toque over his mask remains an iconic moment in NHL history.
The extreme cold had a major impact on the game, but that didn’t stop these two teams from putting on a show for the 57,167 fans in attendance at Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium. The Habs earned a 4-3 victory over the Oilers, but the real winner was the NHL, as the game proved that outdoor hockey was commercially viable and eventually led to the creation of the Winter Classic and Stadium Series that we know today.