Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

Winter Classic Numbers

01/02/2023 at 8:39am EST

BOSTON (Dec. 30, 2022) – A look at the 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic® “By the Numbers.”

1 – The 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic is expected to be the first outdoor game to feature three 1,000-point scorers, in Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron and Penguins teammates Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. The only previous outdoor game to feature multiple players with 1,000 or more career points entering play was the 2018 Stadium Series at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (Patrick Marleau, TOR; Alex Ovechkin, WSH).

2 – The 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic marks the second outdoor NHL game at Fenway Park, following the 2010 NHL Winter Classic. It will become the fourth venue to host multiple outdoor NHL games, joining Pittsburgh’s Heinz Field (2011 NHL Winter Classic and 2017 NHL Stadium Series™), New York’s Yankee Stadium (two 2014 NHL Stadium Series contests) and Edgewood Tahoe Resort in Nevada (both NHL Outdoors at Lake Tahoe™ contests).

2 – Number of GRAMMY nominations The Black Keys received in 2022, bringing their career total to 16. The Black Keys will headline the first intermission presented by Ticketmaster performance at the 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic.

3 – Three current Boston Bruins or Pittsburgh Penguins players dressed in the 2010 Winter Classic at Fenway Park, including Bruins teammates Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci, as well as Penguins forward Jeff Carter. Carter collected an assist on the Flyers’ 1-0 goal by Danny Syvret (which marked the first tally of Syvret’s NHL career), while Bergeron had a helper on the overtime winner by Marco Sturm.

5 – The Bruins are contesting their fifth outdoor game, following wins in the 2010 NHL Winter Classic at Fenway Park (2-1 OT W vs. PHI), the 2019 NHL Winter Classic at Notre Dame Stadium (4-2 W at CHI) and the NHL Outdoors at Lake Tahoe at Edgewood Tahoe Resort (7-3 W vs. PHI). Their lone loss came in the 2016 NHL Winter Classic at Gillette Stadium (5-1 L vs. MTL). Boston (3-1-0) can become the second NHL franchise with four outdoor game victories (NYR: 4-0-0).

6 – The Penguins are playing in their sixth outdoor game, tying the Blackhawks for the most among NHL teams. Pittsburgh (2-2-1) won in the 2008 NHL Winter Classic at Ralph Wilson Stadium (2-1 SO W at BUF) – the first-ever NHL Winter Classic, 15 years ago – and the 2017 NHL Stadium Series at Heinz Field (4-2 W vs. PHI). The Penguins lost in the 2011 NHL Winter Classic at Heinz Field (3-1 L vs. WSH), the 2014 NHL Stadium Series at Soldier Field (5-1 L at CHI) and the 2019 NHL Stadium Series at Lincoln Financial Field (4-3 OT L at PHI).

8 – Number of youth hockey organizations represented by players ages 7-11 on the Ice Diamond auxiliary rink throughout the day.

10 – Most goals by both teams in an outdoor NHL game, seen four times in League history including during the NHL Outdoors at Lake Tahoe contest at Edgewood Tahoe Resort between the Bruins and Flyers.

12 – The number of NHL partners activating with fun, family-friendly, hockey-themed experiences at the NHL Winter Classic Plaza at Boston City Hall Plaza, such as accuracy challenges and a giant, 12’x24’ air hockey table. New partners activating this year are BioSteel, Caterpillar, DraftKings, Extreme Networks and Fanatics.

14 The 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic will mark the 14th NHL Winter Classic and continues the tradition the League established in 2008 of hosting a regular-season outdoor game at the onset of the new year.

14 – Number of retail locations where official NHL Winter Classic merchandise will be sold, including a mobile shop available through the NHL Fan Access app.

17 – Seasons that Penguins veterans Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang and Evgeni Malkin have skated together dating to 2006-07, which marks the longest such run by a trio of teammates in NHL history.

18 – Years since the Boston Red Sox rallied from a 3-0 series deficit to defeat the New York Yankees in the 2004 American League Championship Series. Boston went on to sweep the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series, capturing its first championship since 1918 and ending the “Curse of the Bambino.”

19 – Players to make their outdoor NHL game debut after appearing in at least 1,000 regular-season contests. Boston's Nick Foligno (1,043 GP) can become the first to do so since former Penguins forward Matt Cullen (1,347 GP entering 2017 NHL Stadium Series at Heinz Field).

21 – Seat 21 in Section 42, Row 37 at Fenway Park, is the location of the legendary “Red Seat;” the landing spot of the longest home run ever hit at Fenway Park, a 502-foot Ted Williams blast.

22.8 – Meet Boston estimates that the economic impact from the 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic® will be $22.8 million.

24 – Number of Stanley Cup® winners born in the state of Massachusetts, the second-most of any state behind only Minnesota with 30.

25 – A total of 25 Massachusetts-born players have dressed in at least one NHL game this season (23 skaters, 2 goaltenders), the third-highest total among U.S. states behind Minnesota (44) and Michigan (31). The list of Massachusetts-born players includes Bruins teammates Charlie Coyle (East Weymouth, Mass.) and Matt Grzelcyk (Charlestown, Mass.).

35 Number worn by Boston Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark, who sits atop the League in goals against average (1.90), save percentage (.938%) and wins (20).

36 The 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic will mark the 36th NHL® regular-season outdoor game contested. Of the previous 35 games that have been played, 21 have been hosted within football stadiums, 11 have been played inside baseball stadiums, two played atop a golf course, and one inside a soccer stadium.

37Patrice Bergeron (1-3—4 in 4 GP) has appeared in all four outdoor games contested by the Bruins. Only 12 players in NHL history have skated in five or more outdoor games, with Bergeron and Pittsburgh’s Jeff Carter (0-2—2 in 4 GP) set to join that list. Bergeron also enters the 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic tied for fourth place on the League’s all-time outdoor game assists list, behind Henrik Zetterberg (0-7—7 in 4 GP), Jonathan Toews (2-5—7 in 6 GP) and Marian Hossa (0-4—4 in 3 GP).

37’2” – Height of the left field wall at Fenway Park, known as the “Green Monster,” which will serve as the rink’s backdrop for the 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic.

53 – Length, in feet, of the world’s largest mobile rink refrigeration unit, specially built for outdoor games

conducted by the NHL.

60 – Number of cadets from three local universities – Boston University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Northeastern University – who will unfurl the U.S. flag over the Green Monster as part of the opening ceremony at Fenway.

87Number worn by Pittsburgh Penguins forward Sidney Crosby, who leads the club in scoring with

43 points (19-24-43 in 35 GP) and is tied for tenth in the League.

88 – Number worn by Boston Bruins forward David Pastrnak (4-1—5 in 2 GP) who enters the 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic as the NHL’s all-time leader in outdoor game goals. His five points in open-air contests are tied for fourth place in League history, behind Jonathan Toews (2-5—7 in 6 GP), Henrik Zetterberg (0-7—7 in 4 GP) and James van Riemsdyk (3-3—6 in 7 GP). Pastrnak leads the club in scoring with 48 points (24-24-48 in 35 GP) and is seventh in the League.

135 – Years the Boston Pops Orchestra has been entertaining audiences in Boston and beyond. Led by conductor Keith Lockhart for the past 27 years, the Pops will serve as the house band throughout the game at Fenway Park.

223 – The 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic will mark the 223rd time the Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins have faced off in regular-season games since the 1967-68 season, with the Bruins holding a 275-185 edge in points over the Penguins (BOS: 123-70-29—275; PIT: 78-115-29—185). In addition, the Bruins and Penguins have met five times in the Stanley Cup® Playoffs, the Bruins having won three of those series matchups.

243 Number of ice pans under the rink at Fenway Park, each measuring 30”x340” in size.

300 Ton capacity of the refrigeration trailer that will keep the ice cool at Fenway Park.

302 The distance in feet from home plate to “Pesky’s Pole” in right field at Fenway Park. Named after Red Sox legend Johnny Pesky, the right field pole marks the shortest home run distance in MLB.

350 – Gallons of paint used to make the ice at Fenway Park white.

369 – The winningest Massachusetts-born goaltender in NHL history is Tom Barrasso (Boston, Mass.), who recorded 369 career victories – including 226 with the Penguins across parts of 12 seasons from 1988-89 to 1999-00. Barrasso backstopped Pittsburgh to its first two Stanley Cups in franchise history (1991 and 1992).


907 – Number of players and coaches who have participated in the NHL’s 35 regular-season outdoor games to date (866 players, 41 coaches).

1912 – Fenway Park officially opened April 20, 1912, which was five days after the sinking of the RMS Titanic and more than two years before the outbreak of World War I. Fenway Park, which predates the NHL’s inaugural season by nearly six years, is one of nine venues founded in 1912 or earlier to host a regular-season or playoff NHL game. That list also includes Duquesne Gardens, home of the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1925-26 through 1929-30.

1924 – Boston joined the NHL in 1924-25 as the League’s first U.S.-based franchise. The Bruins’ leading scorer during their inaugural season was Jimmy Herberts (17-6—23 in 30 GP), who was signed by Boston after spending the 1923-24 campaign with the Eveleth Reds of the United States Amateur Hockey Association.

1925 – Year the original Pittsburgh NHL franchise, called the Pittsburgh Pirates, was established. The ‘P’ featured on the Penguins’ NHL Winter Classic jersey is inspired by the original logo and the city’s rich professional sports history.

1948 – Year the Bruins debuted the spoked-B on their jerseys. The BOSTON wordmark, featuring a custom typeface created by adidas, of the Bruins’ Winter Classic jersey is inspired by the original spoked-B.

1967 – The Penguins contested their inaugural season in 1967-68 after claiming Bob Dillabough and Jeannot Gilbert from the Bruins in the 1967 NHL Expansion Draft. Among those who made the selections were Pittsburgh general manager Jack Riley, head coach and former Bruins forward Red Sullivan, and scout Edgar “Chirp” Brenchley.

1990 – Year that music group Bell Biv DeVoe released their debut album, Poison, and changed the sound of contemporary R&B. The trio will perform the U.S. national anthem prior to the game on January 2.

1,755,438 Total attendance for the NHL’s 35 regular-season outdoor games (an average of 50,155 per game when fans could attend; 33 of 35 GP).

Create an Account

In order to leave a comment, please create an account.

About Kukla's Korner Hockey

Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.

From breaking news to in-depth stories around the league, KK Hockey is updated with fresh stories all day long and will bring you the latest news as quickly as possible.

Email Paul anytime at [email protected]

Most Recent Posts

Most Recent Comments

Comment by Paul in Kukla's Korner Hockey from the entry Open Post- Three Playoff Games Tonight - 10 minutes ago
Comment by Paul in Kukla's Korner Hockey from the entry Open Post- Three Playoff Games Tonight - 25 minutes ago
Comment by damndogrevenge in Abel to Yzerman from the entry A Message From Patrick Kane - 42 minutes ago
Comment by Paul in Kukla's Korner Hockey from the entry Open Post- Three Playoff Games Tonight - 1 hour ago
Comment by Paul in Abel to Yzerman from the entry A Message From Patrick Kane - 1 hour ago