Rangers Top Panthers In 2026 Winter Classic

     Mika Zibanejad finished with a hat trick as the New York Rangers defeated the Florida Panthers 5-1 in the 2026 Winter Classic at loanDepot park in Miami on Friday night. It was the first National Hockey League outdoor game played in the state of Florida. The roof of the domed stadium was opened up for the contest. Zibanejad was named the Most Valuable Player of the Winter Classic. 

     The Panthers participated in their first outdoor game in franchise history. The Rangers now have a 6-0-0 record in outdoor contests and been victorious in more NHL outdoor games than any other team. It was the southern-most regular season game in NHL history, surpassing games played by the Panthers at Miami Arena from 1993 to 1998. This turned out to be the 17th Winter Classic, which was introduced by the National Hockey League on January 1, 2008. 

     Tonight was the 15th National Hockey League game in a baseball stadium. The Miami Marlins have played their home games at loanDepot park since the 2012 season. Tonight's attendance was 36,153 and it was a new Panthers franchise record for their largest-attended NHL game. 

     New York(20-18-5) got out to a 1-0 lead on the power play with 4:51 remaining in the first period. Artemi Panarin angled a pass from the Panthers blue line. Alexis Lafreniere centered the puck from the low left circle and Zibanejad put in with a wrist shot from the top of the crease by Sergei Bobrovsky for his 13th goal of the campaign. Zibanejad tied a Rangers franchise record with his 116th power-play goal. 

     The Blueshirts went up 2-0 with 3:47 to go in the first. Lafreniere touched the loose puck in the left circle and Zibanejad cycled the puck from the end wall. Panarin carried the puck from the left point and snapped a shot from the top of the zone for his 15th goal this season. 

     In the second period, the Rangers increased their lead to 3-0 at 58 seconds. Former Panthers player Vincent Trocheck brought the puck from his own zone, tripped over the Rangers blue line and passed the puck ahead from the center circle while sliding on his backside. Lafreniere skated from the right point and slid a cross-ice pass from the right circle. Zibanejad collected his second tally of the contest and 14th goal this year on a snap shot from the inner left circle. Lafreniere chalked up his career-high third assist in one game. 

     Florida(21-16-3) scored with the man advantage at the 2:25 mark of the third period. Aaron Ekblad backhanded the puck from the left point. Sam Bennett then backhanded a square pass from the low slot and Sam Reinhart released a forehand shot from the low left circle past Igor Shesterkin for his 23rd goal of the season. It was Reinhart's fourth goal in the last three games. 

     New York made it 4-1 on the power play with 7:35 left in the third. Zibanejad pushed the puck from the left wing and Trocheck sent a diagonal pass from the left corner. Panarin fired a wrist shot from high slot for his second tally of the contest and 16th goal this year. 

     The Panthers pulled their goalie for an extra attacker with 3:22 to go. Zibanejad placed a short-handed, empty-net goal from his own zone with 1:28 remaining in the game to make it 5-1. It was the first ever Winter Classic hat trick in the event's history. Zibanejad picked up his fifth point, which was the most points by one player in an NHL outdoor game.