MetLife Stadium, home of the NFL’s New York Jets and New York Giants, will play host to 130,000+ fans within a 24-hour window when the Flyers, Devils, Rangers and Islanders play outdoors at the 2024 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series on Feb. 17-18. The Flyers will clash with the Devils at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, Feb. 17 (ABC, ESPN+, SN1, TVAS-D) and the Rangers will face off against the Islanders at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 18 (ABC, ESPN+, SN, TVAS).
* There will be plenty at stake with crucial standings points on the line in the 40th and 41st regular-season outdoor games in NHL history. Entering play on Feb. 9, the Rangers and Flyers own the first and third seeds in the Metropolitan Division, while the Islanders (two points back) and Devils (five points back) both sit within five points of the final Wild Card position.
* The Flyers (1-3-1 in 5 GP) and Rangers (4-0-0 in 4 GP) are no strangers to contesting regular-season outdoor games, while the Devils (7-3 L vs. NYR at 2014 SS) and Islanders (2-1 L vs. NYR at 2014 SS) are set to compete in their second such outing.
* Philadelphia’s sixth outdoor game will tie Pittsburgh (2-3-1) and Chicago (1-5-0) for the most by one franchise in NHL history.
* The Rangers have been involved in a one-goal game in three of their four outdoor outings, including a head-to-head meeting with the Islanders at Yankee Stadium for the 2014 NHL Stadium Series. New York can become the first team in NHL history with five wins in contests played outdoors.
* The Rangers and Islanders will contest the fourth NHL outdoor game rematch following the Bruins-Flyers (2010 WC & 2021 LT), Flyers-Penguins (2017 SS & 2019 SS) and Maple Leafs-Red Wings (2014 WC & 2017 CC).
* This will mark the fifth time the NHL has staged outdoor games on consecutive days:
Jan. 25, 2014: Stadium Series at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles
Jan. 26, 2014: Stadium Series at Yankee Stadium in New York
March 1, 2014: Stadium Series at Soldier Field in Chicago
March 2, 2014: Heritage Classic at BC Place in Vancouver
Jan. 1, 2017: Centennial Classic at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto
Jan. 2, 2017: Winter Classic at Busch Stadium in St. Louis
Feb. 20, 2021: NHL Outdoors at Lake Tahoe
Feb. 21, 2021: NHL Outdoors at Lake Tahoe
* MetLife Stadium will join Yankee Stadium (2014) and Edgewood Tahoe Resort (2021) as the third venue to host multiple NHL outdoor games in the same season. It will be the sixth venue to host multiple NHL outdoor games at any point.
* New Jersey will be the 17th U.S. state to host at least one regular-season outdoor game, and the seventh to host multiple following New York (4: 2008 WC, 2 at 2014 SS & 2018 WC), Pennsylvania (4: 2011 WC, 2012 WC, 2017 SS & 2019 SS), Massachusetts (2: 2010 WC & 2023 WC), Illinois (2: 2009 WC & 2014 SS), Minnesota (2: 2016 SS & 2022 WC) and Nevada (2 at 2021 LT).
* The 2024 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series sees a return of NHL hockey to the Meadowlands, where the Devils contested each of their first 23 seasons after relocating from Colorado. The franchise captured two of its three Stanley Cups on home ice, first doing so at Brendan Byrne Arena during the 1995 postseason and again in 2003 when the arena was renamed Continental Airlines Arena.
Quick Clicks:
* Outdoor Game List
* Outdoor Game Standings
* Outdoor Game Skater Records
* Outdoor Game Goaltender Records
* Outdoor Game Team Records
* Outdoor Game Skater Register
* Outdoor Game Goaltender Register
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* Brothers Jack and Luke Hughes are expected to make their NHL outdoor game debuts and become just the second set of siblings to dress in the same outdoor contest (as teammates or otherwise).
* Twenty-year-old Luke Hughes can join rare company should he find the score sheet at MetLife Stadium. Only one defenseman age 20 or younger in NHL history has collected a point in an outdoor game: Cody Ceci (1-0—1 at 2014 HC w/ OTT). In fact, only three players (regardless of position) have collected multiple points in that scenario: 20-year-old Robby Fabbri (0-2—2 at 2017 WC w/ STL), 19-year-old Auston Matthews (2-0—2 at 2017 CC w/ TOR) and 20-year-old Nathan MacKinnon (1-1—2 at 2016 SS w/ COL).
* Tyler Toffoli’s previous outdoor game experience came during his tenure with the Kings (3-0—3 in 2 GP; 2015 SS & 2020 SS), which included the NHL’s first-ever outdoor game hat trick, since replicated by David Pastrnak at 2021 NHL Outdoors at Lake Tahoe. Toffoli’s three career outdoor goals sit one shy of Pastrnak (4-1—5 in 3 GP) for the most by any player. Toffoliis one of five players on the Devils’ roster with previous experience in an outdoor game (Brendan Smith: 3 GP, Tomas Nosek: 2023 WC, Ondrej Palat; 2022 SS& Erik Haula: 2016 SS).
* Lindy Ruff (0-0-1), one of four head coaches in NHL history with at least 850 career wins (Paul Maurice could join this list by Feb. 17), eyes his first outdoor victory and will make his return to the event for the first time in 16 years. In his previous outdoor contest behind the bench for Buffalo, the Sabres fell to the Penguins in a shootout during the 2008 Winter Classic – the League’s second-ever outdoor contest.
* Jesper Bratt ranks first among Devils skaters in assists and points this season (as of Feb. 9) and second on the team in goals, which includes one tally against the Flyers (1-0—1 on Dec. 19, 2023). Bratt’s nine career goals against Philadelphia (9-11—20 in 26 GP) are his most against one opponent and one more than the next closest (8 in 14 GP vs. FLA & 8 in 13 GP vs. TBL), while his 20 career points are his second most versus one opponent behind his totals against Buffalo (7-16—23 in 23 GP).
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* The Flyers are on pace for 95 points in 2023-24 entering play Feb. 9, which would be a 20-point improvement over last season. Philadelphia has had a 20+ point improvement year over year three times in franchise history (similar games played totals in both campaigns): 2006-07 to 2007-08 (+39), 1978-79 to 1979-80 (+21) and 1972-73 to 1973-74 (+27). They reached at least the Conference Finals/Semifinals in the back end of each of those three instances, including Stanley Cup Final appearances in 1980 and 1974.
* Flyers general manager Daniel Briere skated in two outdoor contests in his career, both with Philadelphia (2012 & 2010 WC). Briere was the first player to attempt a penalty shot in an outdoor game, doing so with 20 seconds remaining in regulation of the 2012 Winter Classic, but was denied by Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist,who secured New York’s 3-2 victory.
* John Tortorella (1-1-0) is set to be behind the bench for an NHL outdoor game for the third time following the aforementioned 2012 Winter Classic (w/ NYR) and 2014 Heritage Classic (w/ VAN). He can join a list of eight head coaches to win multiple outdoor game appearances: Alain Vigneault (3-1-0), Mike Babcock (2-1-1), Claude Julien (2-2-0), Bruce Cassidy (2-1-0), Todd McLellan (2-1-0), Bruce Boudreau (2-0-0), Michel Therrien (2-0-0) and Barry Trotz (2-0-0).
* Travis Konecny leads the Flyers in points entering the 2024 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series and has done so for the franchise in each of the past two seasons (31-30—61 in 2022-23 & 16-36—52 in 2021-22). Should he conclude 2023-24 with the most points among his teammates, Konecny will become the third player in franchise history to lead the category outright in three or more consecutive seasons following Claude Giroux (4 from 2010-11 – 2013-14) and Bobby Clarke (6 from 1970-71 – 1975-76).
* Sean Couturier (2-2—4 in 4 GP) has collected all four of his career points in outdoor games in his previous two appearances, posting 1-1—2 at the 2019 Stadium Series and 2021 NHL Outdoors at Lake Tahoe, respectively. He is one of three players to register multiple points in two consecutive outdoor outings (David Pastrnak: 2019 WC – 2021 LT & Tomas Tatar: 2016 SS – 2017 CC).
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* New York’s offensive production at the 2014 Stadium Series (7-3 W at NJD) slotted its name onto multiple outdoor game records pages at Records.NHL.com, including most outdoor goals by one team in a contest (tied) as well as most outdoor goals by both teams in one game after they combined to produce a 10-goal outing with the Devils at the event, tied for the most on record.
* Peter Laviolette (0-3-1) is set to appear in his fifth outdoor game following the 2010 Winter Classic (w/ PHI), 2012 Winter Classic (w/ PHI), 2020 Winter Classic (w/ NSH) and 2023 Stadium Series (w/ WSH). His five such appearances will tie Joel Quenneville for the most by a head coach.
* Artemi Panarin ranks sixth in the League in goals and points (tied) this season (entering play Feb. 9) – a stretch that witnessed the undrafted, nine-season NHL veteran eclipse the 700-point milestone including 400+ since joining New York in 2019-20. Panarin required the fewest games by a player to reach 400 career points with the Rangers franchise (310 GP), besting Mark Messier (322 GP) and Brian Leetch (380 GP).
* Adam Fox sits sixth in points per game by defensemen this season and will celebrate his 26th birthday during 2024 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series weekend on Feb. 17. Fox, with 44-228—272 in 326 career games entering play Feb. 9, ranks among the top five in assists by U.S.-born defensemen at age 25 or younger behind Phil Housley (369), Brian Leetch (332), Gary Suter (268) and Quinn Hughes (267).
* Igor Shesterkin enters the 2024 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series looking to backstop the Rangers to victory in what could be his outdoor game debut – like Stuart Skinner (EDM) and Joey Daccord (SEA) did with their respective teams this season – and help the club maintain its position atop the Metropolitan Division. One Rangers goaltender frequently had success outdoors for the club: Henrik Lundqvist. The 2023 Hockey Hall of Fame inductee owns the NHL record for most career outdoor wins (4) and saves (114).
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* Patrick Roy, who was hired as Islanders head coach on Jan. 21, did not participate in an NHL outdoor game as a goaltender but has coached in one previously when he was with the Avalanche, a 5-3 loss to the Red Wings in the 2016 Stadium Series.
* Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored the game-winning goal in his only outdoor contest to date, the NHL100 Classic, which saw him register the game’s first tally en route to a 3-0 Senators win. Pageau can join Brad Richards (2) as the second player to score multiple game-winning goals in an outdoor game and the first to do so in each of his first two contests.
* Ilya Sorokin, the NHL’s leader in saves in 2023-24, could make his outdoor debut for the club. Entering play Feb. 9, Sorokin co-leads the NHL with three wins that required 40+ saves. Only three goaltenders have made 40+ saves in an NHL outdoor game: David Rittich (43 at 2019 HC), Jonathan Bernier (41 at 2014 WC) and Brian Elliott (40 at 2019 SS) – all of whom achieved the feat in their first-ever outing outside. Bernier and Elliott did so in outdoor game victories.
* Noah Dobson has produced five outings with at least three points in 2023-24 and has collected the second-most points among his teammates this season (entering play Feb. 9). The 24-year-old defenseman enters the 2024 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series after reaching the 50-point mark in a single season for the second time in his career (also 13-38—51 in 2021-22) and stands as the sixth defenseman to enter an outdoor game with 50 or more points following Erik Karlsson (55, 2014 HC), Roman Josi (53, 2022 SS), Kris Letang (52, 2019 SS), John Carlson (50, 2018 SS) and Victor Hedman (50, 2022 SS).
* Should he re-take the team points lead heading into the 2024 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series contest, Dobson can also become the fourth different defenseman to lead his team in points entering an NHL outdoor game, following Vince Dunn (2023 WC w/ SEA), Roman Josi (2020 WC & 2022 SS w/ NSH) and Erik Karlsson (2013 HC w/ OTT).
* Brock Nelson, who earlier this season became the seventh player to skate in 800 career games with the Islanders, opened the scoring for the club during their 2014 Stadium Series matchup against the Rangers. Should he find the back of the net again in the second outdoor rendition of “The Battle of New York”, Nelson can become the 10th player to score in each of his first two career appearances outside. Teammate Jean-Gabriel Pageau, New Jersey’s Erik Haula and Philadelphia’s duo of Joel Farabee and Rasmus Ristolainen can also achieve the feat this season.
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Philadelphia Flyers vs. New Jersey Devils
* The Flyers and Devils have shared the same division in every NHL season since 1982-83, when the Colorado Rockies relocated to the Meadowlands and began play at Brendan Byrne Arena (Patrick: 1982-83 – 1992-93; Atlantic: 1993-94 – 2012-13; Metropolitan: 2013-14 – 2019-20 & 2021-22 – present; Mass Mutual East: 2020-21).
* The Flyers have earned 125 regular-season wins against the Devils/Rockies/Scouts franchise (125-109-32 in 266 GP), Philadelphia’s fourth most against a single opponent, while New Jersey’s 123 victories against Philadelphia (123-116-27 in 266 GP) are the franchise’s second most versus one club behind only its total against Pittsburgh (127-108-23 in 258 GP).
* Forty-three players have appeared in an NHL game for both the Flyers and Devils, with notables on the list including Jaromir Jagr, Sean Burke, Wayne Simmonds and Valeri Zelepukin. Jagr is the only player to appear in an NHL outdoor game for both the Flyers (2012 WC) and Devils (2014 SS).
* The two franchises have met in the Stanley Cup Playoffs six times (1978 PRLM, 1995 CF, 2000 CF, 2004 CQF, 2010 CQF & 2012 CSF) – the Devils’ second most against a single opponent behind only the Rangers (3-4 in 7 series). New Jersey’s three playoff series wins against the Flyers (3-3) are also tied with aforementioned New York and Boston (3-1 in 4 series) for its most against a single franchise.
* Despite the Rockies getting swept in the first-ever postseason meeting between the two franchises, the Devils were able to rebound in their next two meetings during the 1995 and 2000 Conference Finals en route to capturing the club’s first two championships. In fact, the winner of four of the six all-time postseason series between the franchises has advanced to the Stanley Cup Final.
* Both franchises have been backstopped by legendary netminders throughout the years, from Ron Hextall and his Conn Smythe Trophy-winning performance for the Flyers during the 1987 Stanley Cup Playoffs to Hockey Hall of Fame member and two-time Stanley Cup champion Bernie Parent. In New Jersey, Martin Brodeur’s journey to becoming one of the greatest goaltenders in League history and becoming the NHL’s all-time leader in games played (1,266 GP), wins (691) and shutouts (125), included many of his monumental moments coming against the Flyers.
New York Rangers vs. New Yorks Islanders
* The Rangers and New York Americans/Brooklyn Americans battled for NHL supremacy in the state from 1926-27 to 1941-42 until the latter became defunct, but the introduction of the Islanders in 1972-73 officially introduced the Battle of New York rivalry we know to this day – sharing the same division for each of the past 51 seasons (East: 1972-73 – 1973-74; Patrick: 1974-75 – 1992-93; Atlantic: 1993-94 – 2012-13; Metropolitan: 2013-14 – 2019-20 & 2021-22 – present; Mass Mutual East: 2020-21).
* The Islanders have earned 135 regular-season wins against the Rangers, the franchise’s second most against a single opponent behind only their total versus the Devils (147). Their eight playoff series against the Rangers (5-3) – who also were the franchise’s first-ever opponent in the Stanley Cup Playoffs (1975 PRLM) – are tied for the franchise’s most against one opponent (also WSH: 6-2).
* The Rangers have earned 135 regular-season wins against the Islanders – the franchise’s third most against a non-Original Six club behind their totals against the Flyers (143) and Penguins (138). Despite only three all-time postseason series wins against their 2024 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series opponent, the Rangers’ eight matchups against the Islanders in the Stanley Cup Playoffs are the club’s third most (tied) versus a non-Original Six team behind the Flyers (5-6) and Capitals (5-4).
* Seventy-seven players have appeared in a game for both the Islanders and Rangers including notables such as Pat LaFontaine, Ray Ferraro, Kevin Weekes and Mathieu Schneider.
* The 1979 Semifinals was the first between the Rangers-Islanders to feature the complete combination of Billy Smith, Mike Bossy, Denis Potvin, Clark Gillies and Bryan Trottier on the Islanders roster – cornerstones of the franchise for years to come. It was the Rangers, however, that survived a six-game series that featured three consecutive one-goal contests to close out the matchup en route to capturing just their second berth into the Stanley Cup Final in the NHL’s expansion era (also 1972).
* An Islanders dynasty would begin the following year in 1980 as the club captured its first of four consecutive Stanley Cups and witnessed the first of five straight appearances in the Final. The stretch saw the Islanders eliminate the Rangers from the postseason in four of those five years (1981 SF, 1982 DF, 1983 DF & 1984 DSF), spawning the birth of the infamous “1940” chant used to serenade Rangers fans – the year of the franchise’s last championship at that point.
* Mark Messier, Brian Leetch and Adam Graves would bring an end to the chant exactly 10 years after that 1984 Division Semifinals series against the Islanders, capping off the run by defeating the Canucks in seven games to capture the Stanley Cup. The Rangers championship run began with a sweep of the Islanders in the 1994 Conference Quarterfinals – a series that featured convincing 6-0, 6-0, 5-1 and 5-2 victories. 
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Note: All the below stats entering play on Feb. 9.
* Owen Tippett has recorded the highest maximum skating speed in 2023-24 (24.21 mph) and ranks third for maximum shot speed among forwards (99.97 mph).
* Travis Sanheim has skated a total of 179 miles this season, which equates to the length of over 2,500 football fields.
* Jack Hughes is averaging a League-leading 10.97 miles skated per 60 minutes this season, which is equal to skating across more than 160 football fields per hour.
* Two of the League’s hardest shooters will go head-to-head during the 2024 Stadium Series. New Jersey’s Colin Miller has recorded four 100+ mph shots this season, with his 102.59 mph blast on Jan. 20 being the hardest on record this season. Philadelphia’s Travis Sanheim is one of eight players in 2023-24 to record multiple 100+ mph shots.
* Since 2021-22, Chris Kreider has scored 88 of his 111 goals in the high-danger region which are the most high-danger tallies by a player over that span and 12 more than the next-closest skater (Connor McDavid: 76).
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1,954,366– Total attendance of NHL regular-season outdoor games entering the 2024 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series. NHL outdoor game attendance will exceed 2,000,000 at the conclusion of the weekend.
82,500 – Seating capacity of MetLife Stadium, the largest of any NFL stadium.
65 – The warmest temperature recorded in degrees Fahrenheit (18ºC) at an outdoor game (2016 Stadium Series, DET at COL).
48 – MetLife Stadium hosted Super Bowl XLVIII, where the Seattle Seahawks became the fourth team in 21 years to score at least 40 points in a Super Bowl joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (48 vs. OAK, SB XXXVII), San Francisco 49ers (49 vs. SD, SB XXIX) and Dallas Cowboys (52 vs. BUF, SB XXVII).
41 – The 2024 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series marks the final two of four outdoor games this season, bringing the League’s all-time total to 41.
25 – Regular-season outdoor games played in football venues including the 2024 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series. The 16 others took place in in baseball parks (13), atop a golf course (2 GP) and at a soccer stadium (1 GP).
22 – Wins by the team that scores first in 39 NHL outdoor games to date (22-12-5).
20 – Wins by the designated home team in 39 NHL outdoor games to date (20-16-3 overall); designated road teams are 19-16-4 to date.
19 – Comeback wins in 39 NHL outdoor games to date, nearly half. That includes six multi-goal comeback wins and eight wins by a team that faced any third-period deficit.
16 – MetLife Stadium will be one of 16 locations in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. that will play host to the 2026 World Cup. It is the first World Cup tournament to be hosted by three nations and the first to include 48 teams.
15 – Outdoor games decided by a one-goal margin. An additional 10 have been a multi-goal margin which included an empty-net tally (25 of 39, 64%).
13 – Combined Stanley Cups between the Rangers (4), Islanders (4), Devils (3) and Flyers (2).
10 – Years since the last outdoor meeting between the Rangers and Islanders at the 2014 Stadium Series at Yankee Stadium. Five players who skated in that contest still remain with the clubs – Chris Kreider (NYR), Cal Clutterbuck (NYI), Matt Martin (NYI), Brock Nelson (NYI) and Casey Cizikas (NYI).
7 – NHL outdoor games that have required overtime (5 decided in OT, 2 in SO).
5 – Super Bowl victories by the New York Giants (4) and New York Jets (1) combined. Three nights before Super Bowl III, Jets quarterback – and now member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame – Joe Namath attended Miami Touchdown Club to receive its outstanding football player award and stepped before the crowd to guarantee, and later deliver, a victory against the heavily favored Baltimore Colts.
4 – Outdoor games in the 2023-24 NHL season, the third campaign to feature at least four such contests after 2013-14 (6) and 2016-17 (4).
3 – Most points scored by a rookie in an outdoor game, achieved by Connor Brown (2017 CC w/ TOR) and Anthony Mantha (2017 CC w/ DET).
-6 – The coldest temperature recorded in degrees Fahrenheit (-21ºC) at an outdoor game (2022 Winter Classic, STL at MIN).
