Have you ever experienced the magic of an outdoor hockey game under the stars? So, this 2025 NHL Winter Classic will deliver that magic and more for that winter classic between the Chicago Blackhawks and the St. Louis Blues on December 31, 2024. It is to take place at Wrigley Field in Chicago. The NHL Winter Classic is the annual outdoor ice hockey game during the NHL’s regular season. This is unique to the other outdoor games by the NHL Heritage Classic and the NHL Stadium Series. The first Winter Classic was held in 2008 at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. It was played between the Buffalo Sabres and the Pittsburgh Penguins. To date, fifteen Winter Classics have been played since its inception in January 2024. The last one was held in the season, 2023-24, at T-Mobile Park as the Seattle Kraken emerged victorious over the Vegas Golden Knights by a 3-0 score.
Together with the NHL All-Star Game, the Winter Classic is one of the top events in the league stages; the game usually consists of match-ups between some of the most popular NHL teams and players. The occasion attracts the most hockey league viewers and is among the highest television audience scores. Frequently sold on a retro feel of its days from outside the ice rinks returning to pond hockey, such massive popularity has enabled them to increase the number of games held outdoors across the NHL and internationally. In May 2014, the Winter Classic was named “Sports Event of the Year” by the SportsBusiness Journal and SportsBusiness Daily, the second time it had received the award in five years.
The 2025 NHL Winter Classic will be held at Wrigley Field in Chicago, where the Chicago Blackhawks will play the St. Louis Blues, according to an announcement on February 7, 2024. This will be the first Winter Classic on New Year’s Eve, scheduled for December 31, 2024. The more popular the event gets, the more NHL teams are interested in playing as hosts or visitors. This game will be a rematch of the 2017 NHL Winter Classic when the St. Louis Blues defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 4-1. The Winter Classic has become an event on the NHL calendar, eagerly anticipated by many fans. It is also an essential source of revenue for the NHL, as tickets sell out quickly, and sponsorships and merchandise sales are booming. You can check our website to learn more about the upcoming sports event.
2025 NHL Winter Classic – Event Details
Teams: Chicago Blackhawks vs. St. Louis Blues
Date: December 31, 2024 (Tuesday)
Time: 5:00 p.m. ET | 2:00 p.m. PT | 3:30 a.m. IST (Next Day)
Venue: Wrigley Field in Chicago
Successful and Overcome
| Teams | Win | Loss | Total |
| Boston Bruins | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| New York Rangers | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| St. Louis Blues | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Washington Capitals | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Detroit Red Wings | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Dallas Stars | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Montreal Canadiens | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Seattle Kraken | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Chicago Blackhawks | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Buffalo Sabres | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Minnesota Wild | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Nashville Predators | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Philadelphia Flyers | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Vegas Golden Knights | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Where to Watch the 2025 NHL Winter Classic?
In the United States, the 2025 NHL Winter Classic will be broadcast on TNT, while viewers in Canada can catch the game on Sportsnet and TVA Sports.
Ice Hockey fans outside the U.S. and Canada can watch the NHL Winter Classic 2025 on NHL.TV.
UK, Sweden, and Finland fans can watch the 2025 NHL Winter Classic on Viaplay.
Prediction
Chicago Blackhawks vs. St. Louis Blues
The Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues engage in a fierce NHL rivalry as members of the Western Conference Central Division, a relationship that has existed since 1970. Following the Detroit Red Wings’ shift to the Eastern Conference, this matchup is regarded as the top divisional rivalry for both teams. In the 2000s, the rivalry cooled as both franchises took different paths, with only one playoff meeting in 2002, where the Blues triumphed 4-1, a significant event that marked a turning point. However, their rivalry reignited as the Blackhawks and Blues regained prominence in the early 2010s. Overall, the teams have faced each other 394 times, with the most notable outcome being a 10-3 victory for the Blackhawks over the Blues. Moving over to their recent performance, the Chicago Blackhawks suffered their fourth straight defeat against the Dallas Stars with a disappointing score of 1-5.
Bedard shot the first goal in the first period of the game, but the opponent managed to tie the game before the end of the first period. In the second period, the attack found an error on the side of the Chicago Blackhawks, and their unbalanced defense added an advantage to the opponents; they took the lead in the game, and in the third period also, they didn’t find the rhythm and end up the game. With their underperformance, they stand at the bottom with a score of 12 wins, 23 losses, and two OTLs. Players like Connor Bedard and Alex DeBrincat contributed to their dominant performance and successfully led the team. However, inconsistent performance has been an issue, which is evident in their recent losses and overall record. The team is currently in a rebuilding phase, a process that involves strategic player acquisitions and development to improve the team’s performance in the long term. Although achieving immediate success is challenging during this phase, it is necessary for the team’s future success.
On the other hand, the St. Louis Blues snapped their two straight victories by losing their match with the Buffalo Sabres with a score of 4-2. On game day, they had 37 shots on goal, 13 shots off goal, and three penalties. In the Central Division, they are in the bottom third place with a record of 17 wins, 17 losses, and four overtime losses. The Blues have a solid core with Robert Thomas, Jordan Kyrou, and Pavel Buchnevich, all of whom deliver at an elite level every night. Jordan Binnington returning to elite form in the nets gives the team stability and confidence. Still, at the same time, the emphasis on youth development is very promising, as prospects like Jake Neighbours and Dalibor Dvorsky look bright. However, injuries to key players have been a primary concern, disrupting the team’s rhythm and impacting their depth, a factor that has contributed to their recent losses.
The Chicago Blackhawks have a history of success against the St. Louis Blues, as seen in their last H2H in October 2024, when they defeated the Blues 6-2. Donato R. Kurashev P. and Sanford Z. helped the Blackhawks score three points in the first period, and their dominance continued in the second period, adding another three points to their scoreboard. Despite the strong performance of Dvorsky D. and Perunovich S., the Blackhawks maintained their lead. As the 2025 NHL Winter Classic approaches, the Blackhawks have a history of success against the Blues, giving them confidence. However, considering the current performance and roster, the St. Louis Blues have a slight edge to win this game. The Blackhawks, on the other hand, will need to take advantage of their speed and capitalize on the Blues’ mistakes to make the game more intense.
