2023 NHL Winter Classic

The 2023 NHL Winter Classic was an outdoor ice hockey game played in the National Hockey League (NHL) on January 2, 2023, at Fenway Park in Boston. The 14th edition of the Winter Classic, it matched the Boston Bruins against the Pittsburgh Penguins;[2] the Bruins won 2–1.

2023 NHL Winter Classic
123 Total
Pittsburgh Penguins 010 1
Boston Bruins 002 2
DateJanuary 2, 2023
VenueFenway Park
CityBoston, Massachusetts
Attendance39,243[1]
← 2022 2024 →

Background

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On February 4, 2022, the NHL announced that the 2023 NHL Winter Classic would take place at Fenway Park, hosted by the Boston Bruins.[3] Fenway Park became the first venue to host two Winter Classics, having previously hosted the 2010 NHL Winter Classic.[4]

ESPN reported in February 2022 that the Pittsburgh Penguins would likely be the opponent after Fenway Sports Group, owner of Fenway Park, took over majority control of the Penguins in December 2021.[5] The league confirmed that it would be the Penguins on April 13.[2]

The NHL moved the Winter Classic to Monday, January 2, as it had in 2012 and 2017, declining to hold the event on a Sunday.[2] In addition, the game returned to its customary afternoon start time (2 p.m. EST).[6]

Game summary

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Scoring summary[1]
Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score
1st No scoring
2nd PIT Kasperi Kapanen (6) Danton Heinen (8), Jeff Carter (12) 8:40 1–0 PIT
3rd BOS Jake DeBrusk (15) Brad Marchand (21), Matt Grzelcyk (9) 7:46 1–1
BOS Jake DeBrusk (16) Taylor Hall (15), David Krejci (18) 17:36 1–2 BOS
Number in parentheses represents the player's total in goals or assists to that point of the season
Penalty summary[1]
Period Team Player Penalty Time PIM
1st PIT Teddy Blueger Boarding 17:33 2:00
2nd PIT Pierre-Olivier Joseph Interference 2:24 2:00
BOS David Pastrnak Holding 2:24 2:00
BOS Hampus Lindholm High-sticking 4:38 2:00
3rd BOS Matt Grzelcyk Tripping 1:11 2:00
PIT Brian Dumoulin Tripping 5:40 2:00
Three star selections[1]
Team Player Statistics
1st BOS Jake DeBrusk 2 goals
2nd PIT Kasperi Kapanen 1 goal
3rd BOS Linus Ullmark 26 saves

Team rosters

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Entertainment

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Bell Biv DeVoe, accompanied by the Boston Pops Orchestra, performed the national anthem while the Black Keys performed during the first intermission. Following the anthem, a ceremonial "puck pitch" was done by Red Sox alumni players Jason Varitek and Tim Wakefield along with Boston Bruins alumni Johnny Bucyk, Zdeno Chara, and Bobby Orr. The Boston Pops also served as the house band during the game. Country music artist Sam Hunt performed during pregame.

Broadcasting

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The game was broadcast by TNT in the U.S. and Sportsnet in Canada.[2] Warner Bros. Discovery Sports reported that the game was the most-watched regular season hockey game of all-time on cable in the United States, averaging 1.8 million viewers throughout the broadcast and peaking at 2.1 million viewers toward the end of the game.[8]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Game Summary - 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic - Monday, January 2, 2023". National Hockey League. January 2, 2023. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d "2023 Winter Classic will pit Penguins against Bruins on Jan. 2". NHL.com. NHL. April 13, 2022.
  3. ^ "2023 NHL Winter Classic at Fenway Park, Bruins opponent not announced". NHL.com. NHL. February 4, 2023.
  4. ^ "Boston Bruins to host 2023 Winter Classic at Fenway Park". Sportsnet.ca. Sportsnet. February 4, 2023.
  5. ^ "Fenway Park to host Boston Bruins in NHL's 2023 Winter Classic". ESPN. February 4, 2023.
  6. ^ "'Ideal' rink, weather expected for 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic". NHL.com. NHL. December 31, 2022.
  7. ^ a b "Club Playing Roster - 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic - Monday, January 2, 2023". National Hockey League. January 2, 2023. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  8. ^ Warner Bros. Discovery Sports U.S. PR [@WBDSportsPR] (January 4, 2023). "@NHL_On_TNT 's exclusive U.S. presentation of the 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic is the most-watched NHL regular season game of all-time on cable. 👀 More on the big day of 🏒 across WBD Sports' platforms 👇" (Tweet). Retrieved January 4, 2023 – via Twitter.