The NHL's 2022 Winter Classic will be held at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minn. despite the recent postponements due to surges of COVID-19.
The league resumed the regular season on Tuesday, Dec. 28 after extending the shutdown for Christmas and the Wild remain scheduled to battle the Blues at the first Winter Classic in Minneapolis. The NHL previously attempted to host the 2021 Winter Classic at Target Field before it was canceled due to COVID.
With temperatures falling between 1 and 26 degrees below zero, the outdoor game has the potential to be one of the coldest matchups in history. Stadium operators are preparing to host around 40,000 fans in Minneapolis and provide hand warmers to each.
As the teams will battle for the top of the Central Division in the 2022 Winter Classic, The Sporting News has you covered with everything you need to know including game time, location, and TV channel information.
Who is playing in the 2022 Winter Classic?
The Wild and the Blues will face off on New Year's Day. They last met in a preseason game in October, where Minnesota took a 4-3 overtime victory. However, the Wild will look to snap a two-game regular-season losing streak against the Blues at Minneapolis' first Winter Classic.
The Blues recorded a 4-2 win against the Oilers on Dec. 29 after St. Louis had three matchups postponed during the league's extended shutdown. The Blues will look to earn a critical win on the road and keep their position as the leaders of the Central Division.
What time is the 2022 Winter Classic?
- Date: Saturday, Jan. 1
- Time: 7 p.m. ET | 6 p.m. CT
The outdoor game between the Wild and the Blues will take place on Saturday, Jan. 1 at 7 p.m. ET at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
What channel is the 2022 Winter Classic?
- TV channel: TNT
- Live stream: TNT App
The 2022 Winter Classic will air on TNT for the first time. Kenny Albert will call the game play-by-play with additional commentary from Keith Jones, Darren Pang and Jennifer Botterill.
Where is the 2022 Winter Classic?
The matchup between the Blues and the Wild will be held at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. and is on track to be the coldest outdoor game in NHL history. According to the National Weather Service, the temperature high will be near minus 1 degree with a wind chill value of minus 28 degrees. The stadium operators are preparing to heat the ice.
In addition to the ice, the penalty boxes will also be heated. The stadium will also have several heated areas and will be serving varieties of chili, ramen and soups to keep fans warm.
The coldest game on record was 0 degrees at puck drop during the 2003 Heritage Classic. The Montreal Canadiens faced the Edmonton Oilers and was the NHL's first outdoor game in history to take place during the regular season.