The first three games of 2019 were played today, with the Winter Classic kicking things off from Notre Dame Stadium this afternoon.
Boston Bruins v Chicago Blackhawks
4-2
This year’s Winter Classic was played at Notre Dame Stadium in front of a sellout crowd of 76,126. The only other NHL game with a larger crowd was the 2014 Winter Classic between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings in Michigan, there were 105,491 fans in attendance that day.
The fun started before the game with the Blackhawks recreating the walk the Fighting Irish make on game day. Hundreds of fans were waiting for them to appear, led by the Pipes and Drums of the Chicago PD. The Bruins joined in the entertainment, arriving dressed like characters from ‘Peaky Blinders’, a show about 1920s gangsters in Birmingham, England.
Tuukka Rask was excellent for Boston, making 36 saves. Patrice Bergeron showed once again why he’s one of the best two-way centers in the game. He broke up a shorthanded breakaway and scored on the power play. Center Sean Kuraly put the Bruins 3-2 ahead at 10:20 of the third period, before Brad Marchand scored an empty netter with 33 seconds left.
Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Duncan Keith are the only players to have played in all of Chicago’s outdoor games. Whilst the latter two didn’t register any points in Indiana, the Captain got an assist on Dominik Kahun‘s goal, Chicago’s second of the game.
Cam Ward made his first, and likely only appearance in an outdoor hockey game. The former Canes goaltender made 32 saves on 35 shots.
Up Next:
Flames v Bruins – Thursday, January 3rd (7pm)
Blackhawks v Islanders – Thursday, January 3rd (7:30pm)
Philadelphia Flyers v Nashville Predators
0-4
On the back of a huge upset in Washington, the Nashville Predators beat the Philadelphia Flyers, who lost to the Carolina Hurricanes on New Year’s Eve, 4-0.
Juuse Saros made 32 saves for the Preds at the Bridgestone Arena on Tuesday, keeping his second shutout of the season and the sixth of his NHL career. Craig Smith opened the scoring in the second period before Viktor Arvidsson scored twice. The fourth coming from Rocco Grimaldi just over halfway into the third.
The loss is Philly’s fourth in a row.
Up Next:
Canes v Flyers – Thursday, January 3rd (7pm)
Predators v Red Wings – Friday, January 4th (7:30pm)
Los Angeles Kings v Vegas Golden Knights
0-2
Marc-Andre Fleury made 17 saves for his sixth shutout of the campaign as the Vegas Golden Knights defeated the LA Kings 2-0 at T-Mobil Arena on Tuesday.
The hosts outshot the visitors 48-17, including 18-4 in the second period to extend their point streak to seven games and their home point streak to 10. Brandon Pirri scored the game’s first goal on a power play 3:43 into the third period. It was his second game-winning goal in four games, having scored in the final period in their 3-2 win over Colorado. Alex Tuch secured the win with an emptynetter 33 seconds from time.
LA have lost two of their last three games after winning four in a row. Jack Campbell made 46 saves in his first start since November 10th due to a knee injury.
Up Next:
Lightning v Kings – Thursday, January 3rd (10:30pm)
Knights v Ducks – Friday, January 4th (10pm)
KEY
ALL TIMES U.S. EASTERN
Artistry of Sport 
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