The 10th anniversary of the NHL’s Winter Classic happens on New Year’s Day with the Buffalo Sabres facing off against the New York Rangers in the 2018 beginning at 1 p.m. ET on NBC.
Here are some highlights the 2018 NHL Winter Classic and its history:
1 — Airplane that provided aerial coverage of inaugural 2008 NHL Winter Classic, which was utilized in the replay of the game’s first goal.
2 — Winter Classic appearances made by the Rangers and Sabres, tied for second all-time, following this year’s event.
3 — Winter Classics have resulted in OT or SO since its inception in 2008.
6 — Major League Baseball stadiums have hosted the NHL Winter Classic. Wrigley Field, Fenway Park, Citizens Bank Park, Nationals Park, Busch Stadium and Citi Field (2018).
10th — Anniversary of the NHL Winter Classic, which debuted in 2008 with Pittsburgh-Buffalo from Ralph Wilson Stadium.
11 — Teams have participated in the Winter Classic, including the Chicago Blackhawks, who have done so an NHL-high three times.
19 — Projected high temperature, in degrees Fahrenheit, on Jan. 1 for Flushing, Queens, home of Citi Field, according to Weather.com.
46 — Total goals scored in the history of the annual outdoor event.
178 — Number of all-time meetings between the Rangers and Sabres, including Monday’s game, which marks the first of three meetings this season.
373 — Distance, in miles, that separates Buffalo and New York City.
2009 — Year in which Citi Field opened. The first event was a college baseball game featuring St. John’s vs. Georgetown.
71,217 — Recorded attendance for Pittsburgh-Buffalo during the inaugural Winter Classic.
105,491 — Recorded attendance for 2014 Winter Classic, featuring the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich., the largest attendance in NHL history.
4.525 Million — Average viewership of the 2011 Winter Classic on NBC, featuring the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pa., making it the most-watched NHL regular-season game on record.