Stadium Series Preview; Everything You Need to Know
With the 2023 Stadium Series, the National Hockey League (NHL) is poised to create history as the first-ever outdoor game will take place in the Carolinas. The Carolina Hurricanes will play the Washington Capitals on February 18, 2023, at the magnificent Carter-Finley Stadium on the North Carolina State campus.
In the tightly contested Metropolitan Division, the Carolina Hurricanes presently reign supreme, occupying the coveted first-place position with a commanding 80 points to their name. In stark contrast, their opponents for the upcoming 2023 Stadium Series, the Washington Capitals, find themselves occupying the fifth-place position and clinging to the second wild-card spot for the Eastern Conference with a more modest 62 points.
The NHL has found success with the Stadium Series, which was started in 2014 to allow clubs from smaller markets to play in outdoor games. The Stadium Series was scheduled to be hosted by the Hurricanes in 2021; however, the event was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The fact that the Hurricanes will be playing in an outdoor arena for the first time in the course of the event this year marks a significant milestone for the team.
The Capitals, on the other hand, have participated in three other outdoor games, so they are accustomed to the experience. They have triumphed in all three of their previous regular-season outdoor contests, defeating the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-1 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh in the NHL Winter Classic of 2011, the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 at Nationals Park in Washington in the NHL Winter Classic of 2015, and the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland, in the NHL Stadium Series of 2018.
Both teams will don custom jerseys designed specifically for this event. Carolina will showcase an all-black look, while Washington will sport a jersey featuring its secondary "weagle" logo on the front.
`Hockey fans can anticipate seeing some of the best players in the NHL on show during the highly anticipated outdoor event. Martin Necas, a forward with the Hurricanes who is 24 years old, has emerged as one of the most thrilling players to watch after already setting career highs in goals and points. He needs two more assists to surpass his previous record in that category.
Moreover, defenseman Brent Burns, 37, who was acquired by the Hurricanes in an offseason trade, has improved his performance and has been a key player for Carolina this season. Together with an outstanding 11 goals and 27 assists, Burns has one of the league's most endearing personalities.
Meanwhile, the Capitals will rely heavily on goaltender Darcy Kuemper in the absence of their star player, Alex Ovechkin, who is mourning the loss of his father. The 31-year-old has provided the team with stable goaltending and will need to be at his best against a dominant Hurricanes team.
The Hurricanes' recent success has established them as one of the NHL's most imposing challengers, and they're determined to keep leading the Metropolitan Division. The Caps, on the other hand, have suffered a slight setback, but even without Ovechkin, they are steadfast in their goal of capturing a crucial two points in the intensely contested playoff race.
Hockey fans can anticipate a spectacular night of outdoor hockey with some of the league's most skilled players in a historic setting as the NHL's 2023 Stadium Series prepares to take center stage at Carter-Finley Stadium.