On February 4, 2022, the NHL announced that the 2023 NHL Winter Classic would take place at Fenway Park, hosted by the Boston Bruins.[3] Fenway Park became the first venue to host two Winter Classics, having previously hosted the2010 NHL Winter Classic.[4]
ESPN reported in February 2022 that thePittsburgh Penguins would likely be the opponent afterFenway Sports Group, owner of Fenway Park, took over majority control of the Penguins in December 2021.[5] The league confirmed that it would be the Penguins on April 13.[2]
The NHL moved the Winter Classic to Monday, January 2, as it had in2012 and2017, declining to hold the event on a Sunday.[2] In addition, the game returned to its customary afternoon start time (2 p.m.EST).[6]
The game was broadcast byTNT in the U.S. andSportsnet in Canada.[2]Warner Bros. Discovery Sports reported that the game was the most-watched regular season hockey game of all-time on cable in the United States, averaging 1.8 million viewers throughout the broadcast and peaking at 2.1 million viewers toward the end of the game.[8]
