Wednesday, January 8, 2025

Panthers Facing Rangers In 2026 Winter Classic

     The National Hockey League officially announced that the South Florida region will have an outdoor game. The Florida Panthers will host the New York Rangers in the 2026 Winter Classic at loanDepot Park on January 2, 2026.  
     The Marlins have played their home games since the 2012 season at loanDepot park. It is also where the Orange Bowl once stood from 1937 until 2008. 
     It will be the first time that the Panthers will be an NHL contest held in a stadium venue on a special occasion, not including road games at the ThunderDome in St. Petersburg from 1993 to 1996. They were the last team beside the Utah Hockey League that have not participated in an outdoor game. Florida is the defending Stanley Cup champions and have captured the last two Eastern Conference title. New York has skated in two Winter Classics and three Stadium Series. 
     The Tampa Bay Lightning will also be involved in a Stadium Series during the 2025-26 campaign. They will host Boston Bruins at Raymond James Stadium on February 1, 2026. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers play their home contests at that venue. The Lightning once was involved in a Stadium Series game at the Nashville Predators in 2022. 

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