NEW YORK --
The 2018 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® will feature the Buffalo
Sabres® and New York Rangers® on Jan. 1, 2018 at Citi Field, home of the
New York Mets, the National Hockey League (NHL®) announced today. The
New Year's Day game will be broadcast live on NBC, Sportsnet and TVA
Sports at 1 p.m. ET.
"The Winter Classic made its debut under
snowy Buffalo skies in 2008, and we look forward to celebrating the 10th
anniversary of that landmark event by matching the Sabres with their
intrastate rivals, the New York Rangers, in the 2018 Bridgestone NHL
Winter Classic at Citi Field," NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. "With
New York City as its host, the renewal of our New Year's tradition will
continue to inspire hockey memories for our clubs, our players and our
fans."
Both the Sabres and Rangers will be making their second
appearance in the NHL Winter Classic®. Buffalo hosted the first-ever NHL
Winter Classic® against the Pittsburgh Penguins, a 2-1 shootout loss in
front of 71,217 fans at Ralph Wilson Stadium on Jan. 1, 2008. New York
defeated the hometown Philadelphia Flyers at Citizens Bank Park at the
2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® on Jan. 2, 2012, by a score of 3-2.
NEW
YORK -- The 2018 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® will feature the
Buffalo Sabres® and New York Rangers® on Jan. 1, 2018 at Citi Field,
home of the New York Mets, the National Hockey League (NHL®) announced
today. The New Year's Day game will be broadcast live on NBC, Sportsnet
and TVA Sports at 1 p.m. ET.
"The Winter Classic made its debut
under snowy Buffalo skies in 2008, and we look forward to celebrating
the 10th anniversary of that landmark event by matching the Sabres with
their intrastate rivals, the New York Rangers, in the 2018 Bridgestone
NHL Winter Classic at Citi Field," NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said.
"With New York City as its host, the renewal of our New Year's tradition
will continue to inspire hockey memories for our clubs, our players and
our fans."
Both the Sabres and Rangers will be making their
second appearance in the NHL Winter Classic®. Buffalo hosted the
first-ever NHL Winter Classic® against the Pittsburgh Penguins, a 2-1
shootout loss in front of 71,217 fans at Ralph Wilson Stadium on Jan. 1,
2008. New York defeated the hometown Philadelphia Flyers at Citizens
Bank Park at the 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® on Jan. 2, 2012,
by a score of 3-2.
Additional details on the 2018 Bridgestone NHL
Winter Classic®, including ticket information and other events
surrounding the game, will be announced in the coming months. Updates
also will be available on NHL.com/WinterClassic.
"After hosting
the first NHL Winter Classic in 2008, we are happy to be able to
celebrate the 10-year anniversary by playing in the 2018 game," said
Sabres President Russ Brandon. "We look forward to participating in this
marquee event and helping to promote the great game of hockey on such a
large scale."
"The New York Rangers are honored to once again be
a part of one of the NHL's signature events," said New York Rangers
President Glen Sather. "The Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic represents
everything that is great about our game. Playing in the Winter Classic
and Stadium Series in recent years was a tremendous experience for our
organization and we look forward to yet another opportunity to celebrate
the game of hockey, together with all our fans, in New York City."
The
intrastate rivals have faced off in 177 regular-season games since the
1970-71 season, with the Sabres holding a 196-172 edge in points over
the Rangers (BUF 81-62-34-196; NYR 71-76-30-172). In addition, the
Sabres and Rangers have met twice in the Stanley Cup® Playoffs, with
Buffalo winning both best-of-seven series, including their most recent
matchup in the 2007 Eastern Conference Semifinals.
The 2018
Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® continues the tradition the League
established in 2008 of hosting a regular-season outdoor game at the
onset of the new year. This year's edition will mark the 10-year
anniversary of the first NHL Winter Classic® and highlight top talent in
the League from both teams. The Sabres top scorers from the 2016-17
season include forwards Jack Eichel, Ryan O'Reilly and Sam Reinhart. The
Rangers counter with forward Mats Zuccarello, who led the club in
scoring in 2016-17, 2017 NHL All-Star Ryan McDonagh and veteran goalie
Henrik Lundqvist.
"On New Year's Day we will once again take the
game outside for the 2018 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic," said NHLPA
Executive Director Don Fehr. "The Rangers and Sabres will showcase their
incredible skill before tens of thousands of fans at Citi Field, and
continue the great tradition of the Winter Classic."
Bridgestone,
the Official Tire of the NHL® and NHLPA, returns as title sponsor for a
ninth consecutive year. Over the past decade, the Bridgestone NHL
Winter Classic® has become a tentpole hockey event on the North American
sporting calendar. Five of the six most-watched NHL regular-season
games in the U.S. since 1975 are Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® games.
The company recently extended its partnership with the League through
2021.
"The Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® continues to be the
League's marquee outdoor game each season, as well as a centerpiece in
our own strategic, season-long sports activation," said Phil Pacsi, Vice
President of Sports/Events Marketing and Training at Bridgestone
Americas. "Throughout our longstanding partnership, this special game
has allowed Bridgestone to strengthen its relationship with the
passionate, performance-minded hockey fans in North America and around
the world, and it's a privilege to help celebrate its 10th anniversary."
Citi
Field, home of Major League Baseball's New York Mets, is a world-class
venue that has hosted numerous marquee events, including the 2015 World
Series, 2013 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, and sold out concerts
by Beyoncé, Dave Matthews Band, Paul McCartney, and the Zac Brown Band.
This summer, the Classic East - featuring the Eagles and Fleetwood Mac -
will come to Citi Field, as will Lady Gaga.
"We are thrilled and
excited to host the 2018 NHL Winter Classic between the Rangers and
Sabres and thank Commissioner Bettman for his support in choosing Citi
Field," said Mets Chief Operating Officer Jeff Wilpon. "We look forward
to providing the hockey fans in our city and state a unique setting to
experience this marquee match-up and adding it to the list of unique
events we have been able to bring to the ballpark."
The 2018
Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® will be the sixth NHL Winter Classic® to
be held in a baseball stadium, with the iconic New Year's Day game
previously held at Wrigley Field in Chicago (2009), Fenway Park in
Boston (2010), Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia (2012), Nationals Park
in Washington (2015) and Busch Stadium in St. Louis (2017).
NHL
Network™ and NHL.com will provide extensive coverage live from the event
leading up to and after the game. NHL Social™ will have exclusive
coverage on all social platforms, including the use of the hashtag NHL
#WinterClassic.
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