The New York Rangers defeated the Florida Panthers 5-1 in an NHL Stadium Series game held at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida. The event marked the first outdoor NHL game played in the state of Florida. Rangers forward Mika Zibanejad contributed five points, including a hat trick, making him the first player to achieve this scoring output in an outdoor NHL game.
Game Summary
The Rangers established a 2-0 lead in the first period with goals from Mika Zibanejad and Artemi Panarin, scored 64 seconds apart. The team maintained its lead throughout the game. Zibanejad finished the game with three goals and two assists. Panarin scored two goals, while Alexis Lafrenière recorded three assists for New York. Igor Shesterkin made 36 saves for the Rangers. Sam Reinhart scored the lone goal for the Panthers.
Team Performance and Statistics
The New York Rangers improved their outdoor game record to 6-0-0 with this victory. The Florida Panthers were participating in their inaugural outdoor game and recorded their fourth loss in their last six contests. Florida outshot New York 37-20 and had 38 hits compared to New York's 20. The Rangers blocked 27 of Florida's shot attempts.
Event Atmosphere and Pre-Game Activities
A fan festival was held prior to the game, featuring the Stanley Cup for attendees to view. Hundreds of fans gathered along 6th Street to greet arriving players.
The New York Rangers arrived by bus, with players dressed in white casual attire. The Florida Panthers arrived in Ferraris, wearing 'Miami Vice'-themed outfits that included sunglasses, white suits, and pastel T-shirts. Some Panthers players were observed with retro brick cell phones and cigars, with injured forward Matthew Tkachuk seen smoking a cigar. Panthers forward Brad Marchand signed jerseys and posed for photographs with fans.
During warm-ups, both teams wore throwback uniforms; the Panthers wore bucket hats, and the Rangers wore toques. The field was decorated with a 'sunny Florida' theme, featuring real palm trees and artificial flamingos, on the left side, and a 'snowy winter' theme on the right.
Before faceoff, players selected for the U.S. Olympic hockey team for the upcoming Milan Cortina Games were introduced. Panthers defenseman Seth Jones and injured forward Matthew Tkachuk, both selected to the U.S. team, participated in this ceremony.
Stadium Setup and Opening Ceremony
LoanDepot Park's sliding glass panels in left field and retractable roof were initially kept closed to maintain ice conditions. The opening ceremony began with a performance by Luis Fonsi in Little Havana. As the teams took the ice, the glass panels opened to reveal the Miami skyline, and the roof retracted from left field toward first base, exposing the night sky and a visible moon.
Artificial snow machines created simulated flurries for the Panthers' entrance, accompanied by pyrotechnics. A large U.S. flag was displayed on the ice during the national anthem, followed by fireworks.
Former Panthers goalie and Hockey Hall of Famer Roberto Luongo performed the ceremonial puck drop between Panthers' Aaron Ekblad and Rangers' Vincent Trocheck, who played for Florida from 2013 to 2020. The stadium roof was fully open by the start of the game.
Game Conditions and Ice Surface
The game was played under conditions featuring mid-60s Fahrenheit temperatures and low humidity. The game time temperature was recorded at 63 degrees Fahrenheit (17 Celsius), making it the second-warmest for an NHL outdoor game counting in the standings, two degrees cooler than a 2016 game between Detroit and Colorado. Snow effects were utilized at the stadium edges.
Panthers coach Paul Maurice stated that the ice conditions for the event were 'fine'. Some players described the ice surface as not optimal for high-speed play. Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad described the event as an "experience."
Intermission Entertainment
During the first intermission, Role Model performed. Injured Panthers players Matthew Tkachuk and captain Aleksander Barkov appeared with the Stanley Cup. Additional entertainment during stoppages included a belly-flop contest in an inflatable pool.