The NHL first held the Winter Classic game in\u00a02008.\u00a0The game is played annually on New Years Day. The 2012 and 2017 games, however, were the only ones not played on the 1st of January, as they were played on January 2nd. A total of 11 NHL teams have participated in the event.<\/p>\n
One thing that makes the Winter Classic unique is that it’s led to other outdoor games in the NHL such as the Stadium Series and the Centennial Classic. It has also inspired other leagues such as the ECHL, AHL, QMJHL, OHL, WHL, USHL, and WSHL to have outdoor games. Even collegiate\u00a0and\u00a0European leagues\u00a0have\u00a0put on outdoor games.<\/p>\n
The Winter Classic in 2008 came down to a shootout as the Pittsburgh Penguins took down the Buffalo Sabres 2-1. Pittsburgh goals were scored by Colby Armstrong<\/a><\/strong> in the first period with\u00a0Kris Letang<\/a><\/strong> and Sidney Crosby<\/a><\/strong> scoring in the shootout. Buffalo goals were scored by\u00a0Brian Campbell<\/a><\/strong> in the second period and Ales Kotalik<\/a><\/strong> in the shootout.\u00a0The 2014 Winter Classic is the only other one to go to a shootout. Like many other outdoor games that followed, the teams switched sides midway through the third period due to wind.\u00a0The game brought in a\u00a0total of 71,217 people\u00a0to Buffalo’s Ralph Wilson Stadium, now called New Era Field.<\/p>\n In 2009, the Chicago Blackhawks hosted the Detroit Red Wings in front of 40,818 at Wrigley Field. Roughly halfway through the third period a few former Blackhawks sang a version of Take Me Out to the Ballgame, but with some changes to make it hockey themed.\u00a0Detroit\u00a0came out on top\u00a06-4. Chicago goals were scored by Kris Versteeg<\/a>,<\/strong>\u00a0Ben Eager<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0Martin Havlat<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0and Duncan Keith<\/a><\/strong>. Three of the Hawks goals came on the power play. Detroit goals were scored by Mikael Samuelsson<\/a>, Pavel Datsyuk<\/a>, Brian Rafalski<\/a>, Brett Lebda<\/a>,<\/strong> and two from Jiri Hudler<\/a><\/strong>. The goals by Samuelsson and Rafalski were both on the power play.\u00a0After the game, the rink was opened up until January 4th for public skating. There was a $10 charge for an hour on the ice, which was donated to Cubs Care charities.<\/p>\n2009 Event<\/strong><\/h3>\n