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| Date | February 18, 2023 | |||||||||||||||
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| Venue | Carter–Finley Stadium | |||||||||||||||
| City | Raleigh, North Carolina | |||||||||||||||
| Attendance | 56,961 | |||||||||||||||
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The 2023 NHL Stadium Series was an outdoor regular season National Hockey League (NHL) game, part of the Stadium Series of games. The game took place on February 18, 2023, at Carter–Finley Stadium in Raleigh, North Carolina, with the Carolina Hurricanes hosting the Washington Capitals.[1][2] The Hurricanes were originally scheduled to host the 2021 Stadium Series but the game was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Background
After he took majority control of the team in 2018, Hurricanes owner Thomas Dundon made it a goal to have his club play in its first outdoor game. In 2019, Dundon invited NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman to take a tour of Carter–Finley Stadium to see if it was feasible.[3] On February 15, 2020, the league initially announced that the Hurricanes would host the 2021 Stadium Series.[4] Before the league could finalize the game, the Hurricanes sought additional funding of $200,000 from the local government and other organizations to help offset the cost of hosting the game.[5]
The COVID-19 pandemic forced the league to delay the conclusion of the 2019–20 playoffs until late September, and consequently push the start of the 2020–21 season to January 2021.[6] On October 22, 2020, the NHL announced that it had postponed both the 2021 NHL Winter Classic and the 2021 All-Star Game due to "ongoing uncertainty" since both January events rely on fan participation.[7][8] The decision to further postpone the 2021 Stadium Series game was made on December 23.[9]
The Hurricanes later asked the league to move their outdoor game to the 2022–23 season,[10] with team president and general manager Don Waddell stating that he wanted "to assure a safe environment".[11] On February 4, 2022, the league confirmed that the Hurricanes would host the 2023 game,[1] and later announced on March 3, 2022, that the Washington Capitals would be the opponent.[2]
The game was Carolina's first outdoor game and Washington's fourth.[2]
Game summary
Carolina controlled most of the game, scoring the first four goals en route to a 4–1 win. Martin Necas scored a goal and two assists, Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Teuvo Teravainen each scored a goal and an assist, Paul Stastny had a goal, and Frederik Andersen made 24 out of 25 saves and had an assist. Tom Wilson scored Washington's lone goal in the third period.[12]
- Number in parentheses represents the player's total in goals or assists to that point of the season
Team rosters
- ^ Charlie Lindgren and Antti Raanta dressed as the back-up goaltenders. Neither entered the game.
Scratches
- Washington Capitals: Alexander Alexeyev, Aliaksei Protas, Joe Snively
- Carolina Hurricanes: Dylan Coghlan
Broadcasting
The game was broadcast nationally in the United States by ABC/ESPN+ and was simulcast in Canada via Sportsnet.[13][14][15]
References
- ^ a b "2023 NHL Winter Classic at Fenway Park, Bruins opponent not announced". NHL.com. NHL. February 4, 2022.
- ^ a b c "Hurricanes to host Capitals in 2023 Stadium Series at NC State". NHL.com. NHL. March 3, 2022.
- ^ Smith, Michael (February 27, 2019). "Bettman Talks Outdoor Game in Raleigh, Storm Surge". NHL.com. Carolina Hurricanes.
- ^ "Hurricanes to host 2021 NHL Stadium Series at N.C. State". NHL.com (Press release). NHL. February 15, 2020. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
- ^ Alexander, Chip (February 6, 2020). "Hurricanes seek funding for 2021 NHL Stadium Series outdoor game in Carter-Finley Stadium". The News & Observer.
- ^ "NHL, NHLPA targeting Jan. 1 as start date for 2020-21 season". Sportsnet. Associated Press. October 7, 2020. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
- ^ "NHL postpones Winter Classic, All-Star Weekend for upcoming season". Sportsnet. October 22, 2020. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
- ^ "NHL postpones 2021 Winter Classic, All-Star Game". ProHockeyTalk. October 22, 2020. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
- ^ "2021 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series Game Postponed". NHL.com (Press release). Carolina Hurricanes. December 23, 2020. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
- ^ Russo, Michael (June 28, 2021). "Blues-Wild Winter Classic in Minneapolis set for Jan. 1; All-Star Game to Vegas". The Athletic.
A source said the Carolina Hurricanes, whose 2021 Stadium Series game in Raleigh, N.C., was postponed in December, deferred their outdoor game to the 2022–23 season.
- ^ "Minnesota's Target Field to host 2022 NHL Winter Classic". Sportsnet. June 28, 2021.
- ^ "Hurricanes cruise past Capitals in Stadium Series, win 1st outdoor game". NHL.com. NHL. February 18, 2023.
- ^ "2023 NHL Stadium Series between Capitals, Hurricanes to air on ABC, ESPN+". NHL.com. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
- ^ Chi, Danny (December 1, 2022). "NHL Schedule Update: 2023 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series to be Broadcast on ABC and Simulcast on ESPN+". ESPN Press Room U.S. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
- ^ "Sportsnet Announces 2022-23 National NHL Broadcast Schedule" (Press release). Rogers Sports & Media. July 6, 2022.