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Rangers vs. Panthers Revealed for NHL Winter Classic 2026 with Vice City Theme Photo
Jan 8, 2025
The Winter Classic is headed to Florida for the first time in NHL history.
The New York Rangers and Florida Panthers are set to face off in the 2026 event at the Miami Marlins' LoanDepot Park.
THE PANTHERS AND RANGERS ARE TAKING IT OUTDOORS IN MIAMI 🏖️❄️
The NHL has previously played outdoor games in locations including Los Angeles, Dallas and Nashville, but the upcoming Winter Classic will mark the southernmost outdoor game in league history.
The contest will also mark the first time the Panthers have played in an outdoor game.
The Utah Hockey Club (formerly the Arizona Coyotes) is set to be the only NHL club without an outdoor game on its record. The Columbus Blue Jackets are slated to compete outdoors for the first time in March during a Stadium Series matchup with the Detroit Red Wings at Ohio Stadium.
Meanwhile, the Rangers will be playing in the franchise's sixth outdoor contest, tying the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers for the second-most in NHL history.
The Rangers most recently competed outside in February 2024, when the Blueshirts claimed a 6-5 overtime win over the New York Islanders at MetLife Stadium.
The Chicago Blackhawks, who played the St. Louis Blues during the 2025 Winter Classic at Wrigley Field, hold the all-time NHL lead with seven outdoor games.
The NHL will now hope to hold a game between two playoff competitors when the Panthers and Rangers take the ice next season.
The Rangers have struggled early in the 2024-25 campaign but are looking to bounce back behind star goaltender Igor Shesterkin and 2021 Norris Trophy winner Adam Fox alongside scorers like Artemi Panarin, Vincent Trocheck and Mika Zibanejad.
The Panthers, who landed their first outdoor game after defeating Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers to win the Stanley Cup, are set to bring back key members of their championship team including Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Reinhart, Aleksander Barkov and Sergei Bobrovsky next season.
The first Winter Classic took place in 2008 between the Penguins and Buffalo Sabres. The Panthers and Rangers will be playing in the 17th edition of the event.
Kings vs. Flames NHL Game Postponed amid Los Angeles Wildfires
Jan 8, 2025
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 28: A general view of Crypto.com Arena before a game between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Los Angeles Kings on October 28, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Wednesday night's game between the Los Angeles Kings and visiting Calgary Flames has been postponed due to ongoing wildfires in the Los Angeles area.
Puck drop at Crypto.com arena was scheduled for 10:30 p.m. ET.
Tonight’s game between Calgary and LA at https://t.co/G2gt5FGP8x Arena, NHL Game No. 653, has been postponed amid the spread of multiple wildfires in the Los Angeles area.
A makeup date will be announced as soon as it can be confirmed.
"The thoughts of the entire NHL family are with the Kings, hockey fans and the people of the Los Angeles area during this difficult time," the NHL said in a statement.
Sportsnet's Eric Francis reported that the air quality inside the arena had been impacted as of Wednesday morning.
Anecdotally, can tell you that sizeable ash was falling around https://t.co/CaACRDOA7E arena as we walked in, which gives you an idea of just how big the four fires are. Masks were being handed out as we entered the rink this morning. The smell of smoke inside the arena is… https://t.co/NIN6dXXTsK
The Kings are scheduled to play their next five games on the road, starting Friday against the Winnipeg Jets and followed by a Saturday game in Calgary.
Their next home game is currently scheduled to take place against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday, Jan. 20.
The NFL schedule could also be impacted by the wildfires ahead of the Wild Card game between the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams scheduled for Monday night in Inglewood.
The NFL said in a statement on Wednesday the league "continues to closely monitor developments in the area and will remain in contact with both clubs and the NFLPA."
At least two people have died in the ongoing wildfires, which were caused by "dry conditions and powerful winds," according to NBC News.
The fires had forced 70,000 people to evacuate and destroyed at least 1,000 structures as of Wednesday, Reuters reported.
