NHL Kicks Off Centennial Year with Outdoor Spectacles
The National Hockey League is celebrating its 100-year anniversary in 2017 and things are already off to a great start.
On New Year’s Day, the league held the 2017 Scotiabank NHL Centennial Classic at BMO Field in Toronto featuring the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings. The match was one for the ages as both Original Six franchises have met over 600 times in their respective histories. Toronto held on to win the game, 5-4, after squandering a 3-goal lead in the third period including giving up the game-tying goal with just over one second left in regulation. In the extra frame, rookie forward Auston Matthews became the overtime hero and gave the Leafs the win. It was not a game for the faint of heart.
Next, on Jan. 2, the spotlight shined on Busch Stadium in St. Louis as the Blues took on the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2017 NHL Winter Classic. Again, two storied franchises with high tension history between them met in an outdoor clash. Chicago got off to an early lead but St. Louis’ Vladimir Tarasenko would prove to be the hero of the game. Tarasenko scored two third period goals to lift the Blues to a 4-2 victory.
2017 has just begun and NHL fans have been treated to some great hockey. The centennial celebration will roll on with various events throughout the calendar year.
Stay tuned for more NHL Centennial content!
