The 2024 NHL Stadium Series was a series of two outdoor regular season National Hockey League (NHL) games that were played during the 2023–24 NHL season. This was the first time since 2016 that two Stadium Series games were scheduled instead of just one. Both games were held on the weekend of February 17–18, 2024, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Philadelphia Flyers faced the New Jersey Devils on February 17, while the New York Rangers played the New York Islanders on February 18.
Background The NHL announced the Stadium Series games on June 3, 2023. The league originally planned to only stage one game with just the Rangers and Devils.
All three NHL teams in the New York metropolitan area were represented, like the two games at Yankee Stadium in the 2014 NHL Stadium Series. As with the case of 2014, the Rangers were designated the away team for their game against the Islanders as their home arena, Madison Square Garden, receives tax-exempt status, but only if the Rangers do not "cease playing" home games at MSG, generally interpreted as playing any "home" game outside of MSG.https://blueseatblogs.com/2023/05/24/rangers-2024-stadium-series-metlife/ This also marked the first time the Devils played a home game at the Meadowlands Sports Complex in nearly 17 years, following the team's departure from the Meadowlands Arena at the end of the 2006-07 NHL season for its current home of Prudential Center.
MetLife Stadium, which is less than ten miles from the regular home arenas of both the Rangers and Devils, were scheduled to undergo renovations after the end of the 2023 National Football League season in preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and therefore several low-level sideline seats were covered with tarp prior to the Stadium Series.
Game one (Devils vs. Flyers, February 17, 2024)
Game summary Despite being outshot 48–40, New Jersey controlled most of the game, thanks in large part to two goals from Nico Hischier, two goals from Nathan Bastian, one goal from Tyler Toffoli, and one goal from Brendan Smith. Nico Daws, recently called up from the Utica Comets, made 45 saves in the Devils’ 6–3 victory. For Philadelphia, Nick Seeler scored once and Owen Tippett scored twice. Scoring summary Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score 1st NJD Nico Hischier (17) Ondrej Palat (13), John Marino (14) 0:32 NJD 1–0 NJD Tyler Toffoli (22) Brendan Smith (5), Jack Hughes (33) 13:30 NJD 2–0 2nd PHI Owen Tippett (20) Travis Konecny (26), Egor Zamula (11) 7:43 NJD 2–1 NJD Brendan Smith (2) Ondrej Palat (14), Nico Hischier (20) 16:36 NJD 3–1 NJD Nathan Bastian (4) Timo Meier (12), Curtis Lazar (20) 17:48 NJD 4–1 PHI Owen Tippett (21) – pp Travis Konecny (27), Morgan Frost (18) 18:23 NJD 4–2 3rd NJD Nico Hischier (18) Jesper Bratt (38), John Marino (15) 2:48 NJD 5–2 PHI Nick Seeler (1) Scott Laughton (18), Sean Walker (15) 9:07 NJD 5–3 NJD Nathan Bastian (5) – en Erik Haula (17), Curtiz Lazar (13) 18:15 NJD 6–3 Number in parentheses represents the player's total in goals or assists to that point of the season Penalty summary Period Team Player Penalty Time PIM 1st PHI Morgan Frost High Sticking 1:35 2:00 NJD Colin Miller Delay Of Game 5:10 2:00 PHI Jamie Drysdale Holding 5:57 2:00 PHI Scott Laughton Delay Of Game 19:18 2:00 2nd PHI Nicolas Deslauriers Roughing 8:32 2:00 NJD Colin Miller Roughing 8:32 2:00 NJD Simon Nemec Holding 10:12 2:00 PHI Travis Konecny Slashing 10:51 2:00 PHI Nick Seeler High-sticking 13:46 2:00 NJD Ondrej Palat Hooking 18:00 2:00 3rd No penalties
Shots by period Team 1 2 3 Total PHI 9 27 12 48 NJ 13 14 13 40
Power play opportunities Team Goals/Opportunities Philadelphia 1 / 3 New Jersey 0 / 5
Three star selectionsTeamPlayerStatistics1stNJD Nico Hischier2 goals, 1 assist2ndNJD Brendan Smith1 goal, 1 assist3rdNJDNathan Bastian2 goals
Game two (Islanders vs. Rangers, February 18, 2024)
Game summary After being down 4–1, the Rangers defeated the Islanders in an impressive comeback, scoring three unanswered goals in 4:18 after being down 5–3, resulting in a 6–5 overtime win. Igor Shesterkin made 36 saves on 41 shots. Scoring for the Rangers included Erik Gustafsson, Vincent Trocheck, Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad, and Artemi Panarin. The Islanders' goals came from Mathew Barzal, Bo Horvat, Anders Lee, Brock Nelson, and Alexander Romanov. Scoring summary Period Team Goal Assist(s) Time Score 1st NYR Erik Gustafsson (5) Kaapo Kakko (4), Jonny Brodzinski (11) 1:28 NYR 1–0 NYI Brock Nelson (23) Scott Mayfield (5), Cal Clutterbuck (11) 4:20 1–1 NYI Bo Horvat (22) Noah Dobson (49), Adam Pelech (6) 7:18 NYI 2–1 NYI Mathew Barzal (16) – pp Brock Nelson (20), Noah Dobson (50) 7:34 NYI 3–1 2nd NYI Anders Lee (14) – pp Pierre Engvall (11), Mike Reilly (9) 1:03 NYI 4–1 NYR Vincent Trocheck (17) – pp Artemi Panarin (41), Adam Fox (36) 5:36 NYI 4–2 NYR Vincent Trocheck (18) Alexis Lafreniere (18), Ryan Lindgren (8) 18:24 NYI 4–3 3rd NYI Alexander Romanov (6) Noah Dobson (51) 1:53 NYI 5–3 NYR Chris Kreider (28) – pp Artemi Panarin (42), Vincent Trocheck (33) 15:52 NYI 5–4 NYR Mika Zibanejad (18) – pp Adam Fox (37), Alexis Lafreniere (19) 18:31 5–5 OT NYR Artemi Panarin (32) Unassisted 0:10 NYR 6–5 Number in parentheses represents the player's total in goals or assists to that point of the season Penalty summary Period Team Player Penalty Time PIM 1st NYR Matt Rempe Fighting – major 1:29 5:00 NYI Matt Martin Fighting – major 1:29 5:00 NYI Scott Mayfield Boarding 5:20 2:00 NYR Alexis Lafreniere Tripping 6:47 2:00 2nd NYR Chris Kreider Hooking 0:34 2:00 NYI Anders Lee Slashing 4:19 2:00 3rd NYI Scott Mayfield Tripping 10:36 2:00 NYI Alexander Romanov Roughing 13:40 2:00 NYR Vincent Trocheck Roughing 13:40 2:00 NYI Mathew Barzal Hooking 14:16 2:00 NYI Scott Mayfield Tripping 17:32 2:00
Shots by period Team 1 2 3 OT Total NYR 7 13 16 2 38 NYI 18 17 6 0 41
Power play opportunities Team Goals/Opportunities NY Rangers 3/5 NY Islanders 2/2
Three star selectionsTeamPlayerStatistics1st NYR Vincent Trocheck 2 goals, 1 assist2nd NYR Artemi Panarin 1 goal, 2 assists3rd NYI Brock Nelson 1 goal, 1 assist
Entertainment During Game 1, pop rock trio and Wyckoff, New Jersey, natives, Jonas Brothers headlined the pregame concert, and performed during the second intermission, while New Jersey–based rock band the Gaslight Anthem performed "Howl" during the Devils' introduction, the first intermission, and after any goals scored by the Devils. The national anthem was performed by saxophonist and E Street Band member Jake Clemons. The Devils were introduced by Newark area born-and-raised actor/musician Max Weinberg at the start of the game. Devils alumni player Martin Brodeur dropped the ceremonial puck.
During Game 2, indie pop trio and New York natives AJR performed during the first intermission. The pregame team introductions were conducted by players from the Jets and Giants which were Solomon Thomas, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Breece Hall, C.J. Mosley, Quinnen Williams, Sterling Shepard, Saquon Barkley, and Tommy Devito. The national anthem was sung by United States Air Force Master Sergeant Retired Nalani Quintello, topped off with a flyover featuring two United States Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft from the Carrier Air Wing Eight based at Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach. Alumni players from the Rangers and Islanders Mark Messier (who serves as ESPN/ABC's NHL studio analyst) and Bryan Trottier presided over the ceremonial puck drop.
The colors for both games were presented by the Navy Talent Acquisition Group Empire State office Color Guard, which is composed of Navy recruiters stationed on Long Island, New York City, and New Jersey. The anthems for both games were signed by deaf performer Reba Del Angelo.
Broadcasting In the United States, both games aired on ABC and simulcast on ESPN+. In Canada, Sportsnet simulcasted ABC's feed.
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