2023 NHL Winter Classic
Bruins beat Penguins 2–1 in 14th Winter Classic.
The 2023 NHL Winter Classic, the 14th edition of the event, was an outdoor game held on January 2, 2023, at Fenway Park in Boston. The Boston Bruins defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 2–1.
Fenway Park became the first venue to host two Winter Classics, having also done so in 2010. The NHL announced the location on February 4, 2022. The opponent was confirmed as the Penguins on April 13, following reports that Fenway Sports Group—which owns Fenway Park—had taken majority control of the Penguins in December 2021. The game was moved to Monday, January 2, as in 2012 and 2017, and returned to a 2 p.m. EST start.
Bell Biv DeVoe, with the Boston Pops Orchestra, performed the national anthem. The Black Keys played during the first intermission. A ceremonial puck pitch was done by Red Sox alumni Jason Varitek and Tim Wakefield, along with Bruins alumni Johnny Bucyk, Zdeno Chara, and Bobby Orr. The Boston Pops served as the house band, and Sam Hunt performed pregame.
In the U.S., TNT broadcast the game; Sportsnet carried it in Canada. Warner Bros. Discovery Sports reported it was the most-watched regular-season NHL game on cable in U.S. history, averaging 1.8 million viewers and peaking at 2.1 million near the end.
- date
- January 2, 2023
- venue
- Fenway Park, Boston
- winner
- Boston Bruins
- score
- 2–1
- edition
- 14th
- broadcast_network_US
- TNT
- broadcast_network_Canada
- Sportsnet
Lore & Background
The NHL announced on February 4, 2022, that the 2023 Winter Classic would be held at Fenway Park, hosted by the Boston Bruins. Fenway Park became the first venue to host two Winter Classics, having previously hosted the 2010 edition. 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; the league confirmed the Penguins as the opponent on April 13. The NHL moved the game to Monday, January 2, as it had in 2012 and 2017, and returned to a 2 p.m. EST start time.
Reader's Guide
The 2023 NHL Winter Classic marked a historic return to Fenway Park, making it the first venue to host two Winter Classics. The game featured the Boston Bruins defeating the Pittsburgh Penguins 2–1. Entertainment included Bell Biv DeVoe with the Boston Pops Orchestra performing the national anthem, the Black Keys performing during the first intermission, and a ceremonial puck pitch by Red Sox alumni Jason Varitek and Tim Wakefield along with Bruins alumni Johnny Bucyk, Zdeno Chara, and Bobby Orr. The Boston Pops served as the house band, and Sam Hunt performed during pregame. The broadcast on TNT in the U.S. and Sportsnet in Canada set a record as the most-watched regular season hockey game on cable in the United States, averaging 1.8 million viewers and peaking at 2.1 million.
Did You Know?
- Fenway Park became the first venue to host two Winter Classics, having previously hosted the 2010 edition.
- The game was moved to Monday, January 2, as the NHL had done in 2012 and 2017.
- The ceremonial puck pitch was done by Red Sox alumni Jason Varitek and Tim Wakefield along with Bruins alumni Johnny Bucyk, Zdeno Chara, and Bobby Orr.
- The broadcast on TNT was the most-watched regular season hockey game on cable in the United States, averaging 1.8 million viewers.
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