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The Florida Panthers are going to host the NHL Winter Classic.
They will be facing one of the oldest rivals of the Panthers: the New York Rangers.
That’s right, first the Rangers go to Mystery, Alaska, and now they’ll play in the southernmost outdoor game in NHL history.
The 2026 Winter Classic will take place at loanDepot Park on Jan. 2, 2026.
Hopefully South Florida will be infused with one of our fun strings of winter weather that occasionally show up between December and March.
The news was announced on Wednesday by the NHL and reported by THN Florida Tuesday.
But wait, there’s more!
The league also announced that the Tampa Bay Lightning will host the Boston Bruins in a Stadium Series game at Raymond James Stadium on Feb. 1, 2026.
So yeah, Florida has become a hockey hotbed.
Deal with it, Canada.
“Stanley Cups, strings of sellouts and the exponential growth of youth and high school hockey throughout the state have demonstrated that Florida is a hockey hotbed. Outdoor NHL games in the Sunshine State? Never let it be said that our League isn’t willing to accept a challenge,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. “The Panthers and Lightning have told us repeatedly that they and their fans want this special experience. Beginning in Miami on Jan. 2, when the Panthers host the Rangers in the Discover NHL Winter Classic, we will stage a month-long celebration of hockey throughout Florida that will culminate in Tampa on Feb. 1, when the Lightning host the Bruins in the Navy Federal Credit Union Stadium Series. Florida, we’re bringing our unique events to you, and we can’t wait.”
Each of the past five Stanley Cup Final series’ have seen the Eastern Conference represented by either the Panthers or Lightning.
This will be the first outdoor game for Florida and the second for Tampa Bay, and the first time either has hosted one.
As for the Rangers, it will be their sixth outdoor game and third Winter Classic.
Watch out Panthers, because New York might be the most successful outdoor team ever, boasting a perfect 5-0-0 record with wins over the New York Islanders (twice), Buffalo Sabres, New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia Flyers.
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