Overview
- The Florida Panthers host the New York Rangers at loanDepot Park on Friday at about 8 p.m. ET, with coverage on TNT, TruTV and streaming on HBO Max.
- The rink build is complete and ice-making is underway at the retractable-roof ballpark, with a night puck drop planned to limit sun and heat.
- The NHL has installed protective decking and aluminum pans, added a second mobile refrigeration unit for the first time at a Winter Classic, and built a thicker 2–2.5 inch ice sheet.
- The presentation carries a “Snowy Winter Comes to Sunny Florida” theme featuring a split sand-and-snow field design, plus artificial snowfall for fans as described by NHL events chief Steve Mayer.
- It is the league’s first outdoor game in Florida and its most southerly venue, with fan reaction divided even as players like Brad Marchand call the experience uniquely memorable; the Rangers enter 5-0 all-time outdoors and the Panthers make their outdoor debut.