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What the NHL did with its Outdoor Series over the weekend was remarkable. Sure, the ice conditions caused a nine-hour delay in Saturdayโs game, but Sunday went off without a hitch and the images that came from the two games significantly outweigh any of the issues.
The views from Lake Tahoe are a truly beautiful sight #NHLOutdoors ๐๐ฒ pic.twitter.com/jz92UfUQYu
โ BroBible (@BroBible) February 18, 2021
With the limited fan attendance in 2021, the league was forced to cancel their Winter Classic and Stadium Series games and decided to experiment with something different. It announced two games in Lake Tahoe, Nevada at the Edgewood Tahoe Resort in early January and had a pretty quick turnaround to get it together. Vegas played Colorado on Saturday and Philadelphia faced Boston on Sunday night. The resort is known for hosting the American Century Championship, a popular celebrity golf tournament, and the NHL dropped a rink amongst the western pines at the foothills of the Sierra Nevada and Carson mountain ranges. Much like the Field of Dreams, they built it and they came. It was beautiful.
It's perfect ๐ #NHLOutdoors pic.twitter.com/e4OUPNsMPE
โ BroBible (@BroBible) February 20, 2021
Taking it all in. ๐#NHLOutdoors pic.twitter.com/BmnGr5raik
โ #NHLOutdoors on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) February 22, 2021
Never seen anything this beautiful. ๐ #NHLOutdoors #VegasBorn | #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/HmnUghkloR
โ #NHLOutdoors on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) February 20, 2021
The PERFECT hockey setting. ๐#NHLOutdoors pic.twitter.com/pC6mc8EZYK
โ #NHLOutdoors on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) February 22, 2021
The picture doesnโt do it justice, but as the Golden Knights practice, the rainbow is still there on Lake Tahoe. #NHLOutdoors pic.twitter.com/iNk96ShUrT
โ Nick Cotsonika (@cotsonika) February 19, 2021
Unreal. #NHLOutdoors #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/RHfn6YBBj2
โ Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) February 20, 2021
back to the roots#NHLOutdoors pic.twitter.com/HRY5DSbgjE
โ Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) February 20, 2021
๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ผ.#AnytimeAnywhere | #NHLOutdoors pic.twitter.com/6oQrZhZqs6
โ Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) February 22, 2021
How about that flyover?! #NHLOutdoors #VegasBorn #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/Jmw5sLUPde
โ Jesse Merrick (@JesseNews3LV) February 20, 2021
LOOK AT THAT VIEW!#AnytimeAnywhere vs. #NHLBruins
๐บ: NBCSN
๐ป: https://t.co/imcbNBylmL pic.twitter.com/kI2BCVklVRโ #NHLOutdoors on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) February 22, 2021
Hockey heaven. #NHLOutdoors pic.twitter.com/SsyzLyGLav
โ Nick Cotsonika (@cotsonika) February 22, 2021
The first game began in the afternoon but was put on pause for nine hours while the sun went down and the ice refroze. As a result, it began in the sun and finished in the dark. Sundayโs late-evening bout was a different story and the sunset resulted in the most beautiful, aesthetically-pleasing goals of all-time. Charlie McAvoy scored the first and David Pastrnak scored the second moments before the sun went down past the mountains.
Charlie McAvoy scored the prettiest goal in NHL history ๐๐ฒ #NHLOutdoors pic.twitter.com/XpjZpLCYie
โ BroBible (@BroBible) February 22, 2021
Just ridiculous from David Pastrnak ๐pic.twitter.com/xeJySA8Vtc
โ BroBible (@BroBible) February 22, 2021
Fans were not allowed to attend, but that didnโt stop a handful of hockey faithful from doing whatever they could to get a peek. People pulled up in their yachts, fishing boats or kayaks and made the experience just that much more fun. Especially the goodest boy!
Just a very good boy waiting for the 2nd period to start. ๐#NHLOutdoors | #NHLonSN pic.twitter.com/c3WcprF18l
โ Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) February 20, 2021
"Grab a ladder and hop in the lake with a friend." ๐
The #NHLBruins have some fans watching from the beach. #NHLOutdoors pic.twitter.com/yeo0fajzzx
โ #NHLOutdoors on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) February 22, 2021
Some Golden Knights fans found creative ways to experience #NHLOutdoors pic.twitter.com/ITgiJDFEfl
โ David Schoen ๐ฐ๐๐ (@DavidSchoenLVRJ) February 20, 2021
Things we never thought we'd see at a hockey game. ๐#NHLOutdoors pic.twitter.com/4RrAzTexH7
โ #NHLOutdoors on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) February 20, 2021
There is a guy on a jet ski wearing a @DetroitRedWings jersey and flying a Red Wings flag. #NHLOutdoors pic.twitter.com/yBDYOopqLz
โ Nick Cotsonika (@cotsonika) February 20, 2021
No fans allowed at todayโs #NHLOutdoors game between the Knights and the Avs but if youโve got a boat or a kayak you can get a peek ๐๐#VegasBorn pic.twitter.com/mWfNEgd8d6
โ Jesse Merrick (@JesseNews3LV) February 20, 2021
Everything about this series was awesome. The NHL hasnโt said yet whether it will continue into upcoming seasons, but after the buzz it created, I donโt see how it doesnโt. While you canโt necessarily sell tickets, concessions, etc., it surely canโt hurt to play two outdoor games each season. Imagine the possibilities?
Let us know in the comments where you want next seasonโs NHL Outdoors series to be played!