Five things to know for the Blues-Blackhawks Winter Classic

CHICAGO - The St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks will close the 2024 calendar year with a head-to-head battle outdoors: The NHL Discover Winter Classic.

The Winter Classic, first played in 2008, is the NHL's annual premier outdoor hockey game that showcases the sport across massive venues. It's traditionally played on New Year's Day, but this time around, the matchup comes on New Year's Eve.

Puck drop for the 2025 NHL Winter Classic is set for 4 p.m. Tuesday at Chicago's Wrigley Field. TNT will carry the live TV game broadcast. The game will also be available to simulcast on truTV and stream on Max.

As an iconic matchup for an iconic hockey rivalry nears, here are five things to know...

Blues so far undefeated outdoors

The St. Louis Blues could become the first NHL team to win three Winter Classic matchups without a loss. A victory on Tuesday would improve the Blues to 3-0-0 in Winter Classic action.

With a win, the Blues would also become just the fourth NHL team with at least three wins in outdoor games.

The Blues won the 2017 Winter Classic over the Blackhawks, 4-1 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. The Blues won the 2022 Winter Classic over the Minnesota Wild, 6-4 at Target Field in Minneapolis.

Cam Fowler 1000th game

Cam Fowler, the longtime Anaheim Ducks defenseman who joined the Blues via trade earlier this month, is set to dress in his 1000th NHL game in Tuesday's Winter Classic.

Reaching the 1,000-game milestone is a remarkable achievement, accomplished by only around 400 players in NHL history. It's oftentimes a testament to a skater's durability and sustained skillset.

Fowler played 991 games over 15 seasons with the Ducks. Tuesday will be his ninth game with the Blues and his second game outdoors. He also participated in a 2014 NHL Stadium Series matchup at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

Connor Bedard

Teenage phenom Connor Bedard has quickly emerged as the face of the franchise for a rebuilding Blackhawks squad and one of the NHL's brightest young talents. His rise to stardom and dynamic play make him a natural drawing point for this season's Winter Classic.

The 19-year-old center, drafted first overall in 2024, has lived up to the hype, tallying 92 points in 104 games, just shy of the elusive point-per-game pace. Bedard enters Tuesday's matchup on a four-game point streak. Blues fans may remember Bedard for his improbable highlight reel "Michigan goal" he scored in St. Louis. This will be Bedard's first professional outdoor hockey game.

Weather

Tuesday's forecast in Chicago predicts temperatures ranging from the high 20s to low 40s, likely just above freezing for optimal outdoor hockey conditions. Winds could reach up to 20 miles per hour in the Windy City, adding a brisk element to the hockey atmosphere.

New Year's Eve, however, brings spotty chances of rain throughout most of the day. Rainfall probabilities range around 25-40% for many hours leading up to puck drop. While the rain could present challenges for ice preparation, the NHL is hopeful weather conditions will not lead to significant setbacks impacting the game schedule.

Celebrations

Chicago-formed alternative rock group "The Smashing Pumpkins" will kickstart on-field pregame festivities with performances before and during player introductions. Grammy Award-winning artist Chance The Rapper will headline a first-intermission live music performance.

Pregame ceremonies will consist of team introductions, a Star-Spangled Banner performance, a flyover, and a ceremonial puck drop involving Blackhawks alumni Chris Chelios, Jeremy Roenick and Denis Savard.

During the second intermission, the NHL plans to honor the Blackhawks' and Blues' first and second quarter-century teams, honoring their best players from the past 25 years of the 21st century.