On Sunday, the Winnipeg Jets and Edmonton Oilers will kick off the first of the NHL season's three scheduled outdoor games.
The Jets host the first outdoor game in franchise history and - with the star-studded alumni game plus other celebrations throughout the city - it's clear organizers are hoping this matchup can rival some of the best outdoor games we've seen since the NHL started making them an annual affair in 2008.
With that in mind, let's take a stroll down memory lane as we recall three of the most unforgettable outdoor classics.
Maple Leafs vs. Red Wings, 2014
It wasn't until the 2014 season that the NHL finally decided to let the Toronto Maple Leafs take part in the outdoor festivities.
In turn, the league created just the second Original Six matchup to be played outdoors, with the club pitted against the Detroit Red Wings at Michigan Stadium.
The game set a NHL record for largest attendance, with a certified 104,173 fans braving the frigid temperatures.
The game itself was also thrilling, aided by the blizzard conditions - it truly was a Winter Classic. When all was said and done, the Maple Leafs claimed a 3-2 shootout victory thanks to a winning goal by Tyler Bozak.
Penguins vs. Sabres, 2008
The inaugural Winter Classic will surely go down as one to remember.
The introductory game - which has now become a mainstay - was played in conditions that brought hockey fans back to their days as kids, playing on the local pond while snow fell.
The Penguins and Sabres endured more blizzard-like conditions at Ralph Wilson Stadium and ultimately it was Sidney Crosby who stole the show.
The teams played to a 1-1 score, but Crosby would seal the Penguins victory with a goal on the final shootout attempt - a shootout that saw both goalies share the same net because the snow and winds were so fierce.
Red Wings vs. Blackhawks, 2009
The 2009 Winter Classic was the perfect follow up to the first installment, providing fans with a classic goal-scoring onslaught.
The Blackhawks and Red Wings - in the first outdoor game to include two Original Six clubs - combined for 10 goals in a matchup that saw Detroit claw their way back from an early 3-1 hole.
The game set a still-standing record for most goals scored in a Winter Classic - though the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils combined for 10 of their own in a 2014 Stadium Series game.
On the Fly, theScore's NHL roundtable series, will be published every Friday throughout the season. We're kicking things off with a look at those teams and players that have surprised or disappointed us since hockey returned on Oct. 12.
Failing Freddie
Vaswani: You could make a "Groundhog Day"-style movie about the Toronto Maple Leafs' goaltending troubles. The latest to star in the leading role:Frederik Andersen.
It's early, yeah, but an .876 save percentage through three games is not what Lou Lamoriello and Co. had in mind when they traded for the Dane and signed him to a long-term, big-money extension. Among active Maple Leafs, Andersen is tied with Nazem Kadri, James van Riemsdyk, and Morgan Rielly as the club's highest-paid player at $5 million annually.
While Toronto is the furthest thing from a defensive juggernaut and still rebuilding, what's most troublesome about Andersen's play is the fact he hasn't come up with a save - any save - when his team needs it most. Toronto blew 1-0, 3-2, and 4-3 leads against Ottawa on opening night, wasting Auston Matthews' superhuman maiden effort. On Wednesday, Toronto was up 4-0 on Winnipeg with half the game over. The Leafs outshot the Jets 13-12 in the third period and 4-1 in overtime, but were outscored 4-0. Not good enough. (There's your title, by the way, for that movie about Toronto's woes in the crease.)
The easiest way for Andersen to un-endear himself to Maple Leafs fans was by blowing a 4-1 lead in the third period. It's too soon, Freddie. It will always be too bloody soon.
Guy Boucher Hockey
Cuthbert: So, about that structure.
Guy Boucher was hired to implement a scheme to control the randomness by which the Ottawa Senators score, and are scored against, yet the team that recklessly exchanged shots throughout all of last season is as unpredictable as ever.
There have been 32 goals scored in four games involving the Sens, an average of 2.5 more than the average throughout 2015-16. The leader in shots against last season is still conceding more than 30 per game, but has averaged five pucks on net more than the opposition so far. The result: Ottawa has six points through three games, including two secured in either overtime or the shootout.
The opposition, and certainly Boucher, will make adjustments that will be reflected on their shot charts. But at least for now the Senators are playing some thrilling hockey, and aiding that spike in overall scoring.
O'Leary: Sticking with the "Groundhog Day" theme, the Anaheim Ducks are facing a familiar nightmare scenario.
After going 1-7-2 last October, the Ducks have started the new Randy Carlyle era with a whimper, going 1-3-1 through their opening five games.
Strangely, Anaheim hasn't played a home game yet, and arguably its best defender is awaiting a contract, circumstances that surely aren't helping the cause.
Yet the Ducks' start under Carlyle has clearly left something to be desired, as the outdated structure he implemented in Toronto is beginning to seep into Anaheim's style of play, evidenced by being outshot in three losses thus far.
Fizzling Flames
Hagerman: The Calgary Flames seem to have successfully addressed their needs this offseason, but a 1-3-1 record suggests the club is seeing little value for doing so.
The club acquired Brian Elliott from the Blues in the hopes he would duplicate his stellar 2015-16 season, but so far things have gotten off on the wrong foot. In his first two games with his new club, Elliott gave up 10 goals while posting a save percentage of just .818. Leaving him now with a 4.72 goals-against average and a .839 as of Friday.
The team's offense hasn't been horrid, but still has question marks. The Flames' power play is firing at just 4.5 percent efficiency through five games, the worst mark in the NHL, and star Johnny Gaudreau has just one goal through five games.
The team's poor play may have even trickled over to the practice rink.
Lucky Canucks
Gold-Smith: The Vancouver Canucks' historic start has certainly been surprising. They've reeled off a four-game win streak to begin the season, including two victories in overtime and one in a shootout, leading to a slew of 82-0-0 jokes and half-sincere playoff predictions.
The Canucks' streak is shocking in part because they didn't lead for a single second in their first three games. That doesn't bode well for the rest of the season, and it's a dangerous trend for a squad that will likely be playing from behind more often than not in 2016-17.
Then again, it's such a small sample size that judgments either way are premature. Let's see where they are at the end of November.
Whenever You're Ready, Nashville
Wilkins: Many expected the Nashville Predators to be among the West’s best this year, and while that’s still very much a possibility, the team has gotten off to a slow start, posting a 1-2-0 record through three games.
While the big-ticket offseason addition of P.K. Subban has delivered as promised - scoring in his Music City debut and grabbing a pair of points thus far - many of his new teammates have underwhelmed.
The Preds have been rebranded as a high-octane offensive team, but a number of their scoring threats have struggled early. Of particular note is Filip Forsberg, who scored 33 goals last year, but has failed to find the back of the net this season.
With just two points, Nashville currently sits last in the Central. The good news is that there is still plenty of time for coach Peter Laviolette and the Predators to turn this around.
Follow theScore's fantasy feed on Twitter (@theScoreFantasy) for the latest news, features and more. And download Squad Up, theScore's free-to-win-money sports game.
Here is a look at the Squad Up daily NHL fantasy picture for Friday, October 21:
Line Stacks
LW Andrew Ladd (51K), C John Tavares (85K), RW Josh Bailey (54K), Islanders (vs. Coyotes): The Islanders' top trio has logged over 31 minutes together at 5v5, and they've posted a Corsi For rating of 53.49 percent. Tavares and Bailey have combined for five points, with Ladd failing to hit the score sheet. The Coyotes have allowed 15 goals in three games.
C Mike Ribeiro (30K), RW Craig Smith (39K), D P.K. Subban (53K), Predators (at Red Wings): The Predators' lines have been in fluctuation through a disappointing 1-2-0 start, but Ribeiro and Smith remain together. LW Filip Forsberg now joins them, replacing incumbent RW Viktor Arvidsson. Subban has nine shots in three games while logging nearly 25 minutes.
LW Artemi Panarin (70K), C Artem Anisimov (51K), D Duncan Keith (40K), Blackhawks (at Blue Jackets): While most Blackhawks' stacks will begin with RW Patrick Kane, his lofty Squad Up salary makes it impossible to roster a five-man team with such a stack. Anisimov has just one less point than Kane on the season, while Panarin still has three of his own through four games. Keith will play with them at 5v5 and on the power play.
Bargain Plays
C Riley Sheahan (25K), Red Wings (vs. Predators): While the Red Wings haven't shown any true separation between their top three lines, Sheahan is on the right side of the de facto first line with LW Justin Abdelkader and C Frans Nielsen. He is playing over 14 minutes per game, where he has registered eight shots on goal through four games.
D Alex Goligoski (29K), Coyotes (at Islanders): Goligoski continues to log big minutes at both 5v5 and on the power play. He's playing over 24 minutes a night, registering four SOG through three games with three assists. He plays on the second pairing at 5v5 but joins top teammate Oliver Ekman-Larsson with the man advantage.
LW Matt Calvert (26K), Blue Jackets (vs. Blackhawks): Calvert, who is yet to top 24 points in a single season, has been planted on the left side of the top line with C Brandon Dubinsky and RW Cam Atkinson. Calvert's averaging 15:28 in ice time with four SOG through two games.
Top Fades
C Darren Helm (60K), Red Wings (vs. Predators): Helm has a been a big part of the Red Wings' third line, which has been the team's most effective trio thus far. He has three goals and an assist through four games, but he has registered just seven SOG. At 29 years old, he's unlikely to continue on such a path toward a breakout offensive season.
LW Max Domi (53K), Coyotes (at Islanders): Domi has just one assist through three games. He has totaled just eight shots on goal, and his disappointing start led to a season-low 16:15 in ice time in Thursday's game. It's the third game in four nights for Arizona while on their East Coast road trip and fatigue is likely becoming a factor.
D Mike Green (52K), Red Wings (vs. Predators): Green's salary will be inflated for some time after scoring a hat trick in his third game of the season earlier this week. He followed up the standout performance by failing to register a single shot in over 25 minutes of ice time. His play matches well with Nashville's wide-open style, but he'll continue to have a low floor.
Contrarian Options
C Martin Hanzal (62K), Coyotes (at Islanders): Hanzal is averaging 19:50 in ice time through three games. If he maintains this pace for the entire season it will be the highest average TOI of his career. His 10 shots on the season are on pace to shatter a former career high of 169 SOG. His 10 percent shooting success rate is very sustainable and right around his career norm.
LW Filip Forsberg (57K), Predators (at Red Wings): Forsberg's start has been incredibly disappointing, with just five SOG and two assists through his opening three games. His ice time hasn't dipped, and he's far too talented for his struggles to persist. Roll him out against a Red Wings team allowing three goals per game.
D Zach Werenski (25K), Blue Jackets (vs. Blackhawks): Significantly cheaper than high-profile teammate Seth Jones, Werenski has been the better of the two on the offensive end. He has nine SOG in just two games played, leading to a goal and assist. He is on the top unit at full strength and on the power play.
On the Fly, theScore's NHL roundtable series, will be published every Friday throughout the season. We're kicking things off with a look at those teams and players that have surprised or disappointed us since hockey returned on Oct. 12.
Failing Freddie
Vaswani: You could make a "Groundhog Day"-style movie about the Toronto Maple Leafs' goaltending troubles. The latest to star in the leading role: Frederik Andersen.
It's early, yeah, but an .876 save percentage through three games is not what Lou Lamoriello and Co. had in mind when they traded for the Dane and signed him to a long-term, big-money extension. Among active Maple Leafs, Andersen is tied with Nazem Kadri, James van Riemsdyk, and Morgan Rielly as the club's highest-paid player at $5 million annually.
While Toronto is the furthest thing from a defensive juggernaut and still rebuilding, what's most troublesome about Andersen's play is the fact he hasn't come up with a save - any save - when his team needs it most. Toronto blew 1-0, 3-2, and 4-3 leads against Ottawa on opening night, wasting Auston Matthews' superhuman maiden effort. On Wednesday, Toronto was up 4-0 on Winnipeg with half the game over. The Leafs outshot the Jets 13-12 in the third period and 4-1 in overtime, but were outscored 4-0. Not good enough. (There's your title, by the way, for that movie about Toronto's woes in the crease.)
The easiest way for Andersen to un-endear himself to Maple Leafs fans was by blowing a 4-1 lead in the third period. It's too soon, Freddie. It will always be too bloody soon.
Guy Boucher Hockey
Cuthbert: So, about that structure.
Guy Boucher was hired to implement a scheme to control the randomness by which the Ottawa Senators score, and are scored against, yet the team that recklessly exchanged shots throughout all of last season is as unpredictable as ever.
There have been 32 goals scored in four games involving the Sens, an average of 2.5 more than the average throughout 2015-16. The leader in shots against last season is still conceding more than 30 per game, but has averaged five pucks on net more than the opposition so far. The result: Ottawa has six points through three games, including two secured in either overtime or the shootout.
The opposition, and certainly Boucher, will make adjustments that will be reflected on their shot charts. But at least for now the Senators are playing some thrilling hockey, and aiding that spike in overall scoring.
O'Leary: Sticking with the "Groundhog Day" theme, the Anaheim Ducks are facing a familiar nightmare scenario.
After going 1-7-2 last October, the Ducks have started the new Randy Carlyle era with a whimper, going 1-3-1 through their opening five games.
Strangely, Anaheim hasn't played a home game yet, and arguably its best defender is awaiting a contract, circumstances that surely aren't helping the cause.
Yet the Ducks' start under Carlyle has clearly left something to be desired, as the outdated structure he implemented in Toronto is beginning to seep into Anaheim's style of play, evidenced by being outshot in three losses thus far.
Fizzling Flames
Hagerman: The Calgary Flames seem to have successfully addressed their needs this offseason, but a 1-3-1 record suggests the club is seeing little value for doing so.
The club acquired Brian Elliott from the Blues in the hopes he would duplicate his stellar 2015-16 season, but so far things have gotten off on the wrong foot. In his first two games with his new club, Elliott gave up 10 goals while posting a save percentage of just .818. Leaving him now with a 4.72 goals-against average and a .839 as of Friday.
The team's offense hasn't been horrid, but still has question marks. The Flames' power play is firing at just 4.5 percent efficiency through five games, the worst mark in the NHL, and star Johnny Gaudreau has just one goal through five games.
The team's poor play may have even trickled over to the practice rink.
Lucky Canucks
Gold-Smith: The Vancouver Canucks' start has certainly been surprising. They've reeled off a four-game win streak to begin the season, including two victories in overtime and one in a shootout, leading to a slew of 82-0-0 jokes and half-sincere playoff predictions.
The Canucks' streak is especially shocking because the Canucks didn't lead for a single second in their first three games. That doesn't bode well for the rest of the season, and it's a dangerous trend for a squad that will likely be playing from behind more often than not in 2016-17.
Then again, it's such a small sample size that judgments either way are premature. Let's see where they are at the end of November.
Whenever You're Ready, Nashville
Wilkins: Many expected the Nashville Predators to be among the West’s best this year, and while that’s still very much a possibility, the team has gotten off to a slow start, posting a 1-2-0 record through three games.
While the big-ticket offseason addition of P.K. Subban has delivered as promised - scoring in his Music City debut and grabbing a pair of points thus far - many of his new teammates have underwhelmed.
The Preds have been rebranded as a high-octane offensive team, but a number of their scoring threats have struggled early. Of particular note is Filip Forsberg, who scored 33 goals last year, but has failed to find the back of the net this season.
With just two points, Nashville currently sits last in the Central. The good news is that there is still plenty of time for coach Peter Laviolette and the Predators to turn this around.
Back in the crease for the Montreal Canadians, the goaltender made 27 saves in his first regular-season game since November 25, 2015. But he had more fun watching his team's offensive exploits against the Arizona Coyotes.
"I thought we were skating well and moving the puck," Price told the club's website, "but it's always a bonus to put up a five-spot."
Price improved to 8-0 lifetime against the Coyotes, with a .949 save percentage. Any questions about his health - whether it's the flu or his knee - can be put to bed.
"I felt fine. I wasn't going to go if I wasn't 100 percent. It's nice to get back into the routine and get the feel of the regular season again."
The Habs are 3-0-1 to start the season and have allowed only seven goals in four games.
"For a guy who hasn't skated for a while, because of his flu, he looked sharp," head coach Michel Therrien said, according to the CBC. "Very encouraging to see."
"I thought our goaltender was interfered with, he was elbowed in the head before the puck went in the net. Terrible. Someone is going to have to explain why that goal counts. I want an explanation.
"He's in the paint, he's elbowed in the head before the puck gets there and it goes in our net. They look at it for five seconds and they call it a good goal. Take a look at the replay. Elbowed in the head, in the paint before the goal was in. I got a call in London, in preseason, where the referee came over and said, he's in the paint, it's no goal, and we didn't even touch the goaltender. Terrible call."
Jason Spezza tied the game with 2:07 remaining in the third period, but Martinez ended it 80 seconds into the extra frame.
As the fourth edition of the Heritage Classic draws near, the celebration of Canadian hockey arrives at a time when fans north of the border suddenly have a multitude of reasons to be excited.
Last season, when all seven Canadian clubs missed the playoffs, "Hockey Night in Canada" ratings dwindled.
The rebuilding Toronto Maple Leafs posted the NHL's worst record, and the four western Canadian franchises finished in the basements of the Central and Pacific divisions.
Now, as the Winnipeg Jets prepare to host the Oilers outdoors at Investors Group Field on Sunday afternoon, the Canadian outlook has drastically improved.
The Leafs landed Auston Matthews with the first overall pick in June, and he's made an immediate impact, scoring a record four goals in his debut and looking more than comfortable in the NHL.
The Oilers moved into Rogers Place - a brand-new, state-of-the-art arena - to begin the 2016-17 season, and in April, Senators owner Eugene Melnyk won the initial bidding to redevelop the LeBreton Flats area in downtown Ottawa. If it's finalized, that deal will literally pave the way for a new arena in the nation's capital.
So while it might still be a while before the majority of Canadian NHL teams are Stanley Cup contenders or perennial playoff participants again, almost every market in the Great White North has a reason to believe it's possible sooner rather than later.
As the league prepares to once again celebrate Canadian hockey, the present and future look much better for the nation's franchises than they appeared only one season ago.
An NHL Network interview with "The Great One" aired Thursday, which you can watch on Sportsnet, and No. 99's reaction to Matthews' Toronto Maple Leafs debut was great.
"I'm thinking, 'OK, my (50 goals in 39 games) is in jeopardy, and maybe the 92 (goals in a single season record) is in trouble.' I had all these thoughts," he said, jokingly.
"It's hard to score in the NHL," Gretzky added. "And it's really hard today, with the goaltenders being as good as they are and the players as good as they are. So what he did was remarkable. Good for him. It's great for Toronto."
Gretzky also touched briefly on Toronto's rebuild, while also sharing some thoughts on Connor McDavid and Patrik Laine.
"What's more important about (the rise of extraordinary young talent), too, is how they're respecting the game and how they treat people and how much enjoyment you can see they're bringing to their clubs, and how much fun they're having."
