Newsday is reporting that a deal is close for the New York Rangers to host the Buffalo Sabres in the 2018 Winter Classic on January 1st at the Mets’ Citi Field.
The deal is not yet finalized.
This would be the second time the Sabres will have played in an outdoor game and it would also mark the 10th anniversary of the first Winter Classic in Buffalo, when the Sabres hosted the Pittsburgh Penguins on January 1st, 2008. Over 70,000 fans attended the game in what looked like a real-life snow globe.
Here’s a look back:
Since then, there have been 17 outdoor games played, and three more are scheduled for early 2017.
There are still seven NHL teams (excluding Las Vegas) that have yet to play in an outdoor game since they started becoming more consistent since 2008.
The Dallas Stars, Nashville Predators, Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers, Arizona Coyotes, Carolina Hurricanes and Columbus Blue Jackets have yet to be involved in any sort of outdoor game over the last decade.
It’s important to note again that Newsday is reporting this as likely. Nothing has been confirmed.