Outdoor hockey in Florida is a long time coming, but the Panthers and Lightning have represented the Eastern Conference in each of the last five Stanley Cup Finals and they’ve built heavily engaged fan bases.

The Panthers will host the Rangers at loanDepot park on Jan. 2, 2026, and the Lightning will host the Bruins at the Raymond James on Feb. 1.

Every year since 2008, the NHL has played at least one game outdoors whether it be in the Winter Classic, Stadium Series or Heritage Classic. Almost every time these games are scheduled, they're scheduled for cold weather sites because, you know, if it's too warm the ice will melt. Melted ice isn't great conditions for a hockey game.

Ice hockey may not evoke thoughts of beaches, sunshine and palm trees but that did not stop the NHL from announcing on Wednesday that, for the first time, it will hold outdoor games in Florida next season.

Ice hockey rinks will join palm trees in sunny Florida next year when the NHL stages unprecedented outdoor games in Miami and Tampa, the league announced on Wednesday."The Panthers and Lightning have told us repeatedly that they and their fans want this special

Demers joined the "NHL @TheRink" podcast presented by SKIP on Wednesday and talked up the Avalanche as the team he believes in most in the Central Division even though they were tied for third with the Dallas Stars -- behind the Winnipeg Jets and Minnesota Wild -- entering Wednesday.

The National Hockey League is enjoying growth in Florida, where two of its most successful current franchises, the Lightning and Panthers, play.

On Wednesday, the NHL revealed the league’s unique idea by announcing the 2026 Winter Classic will be played in South Florida at loanDepot park, the home of MLB’s Miami Marlins, on January 2.

An outdoor NHL game often takes place in winter cities where the temperatures are frequently below zero degrees Celsius. This time, the NHL may have to push its limits for the presentation of its next two outdoor games.