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The Winter Classic Won't Be The First Major Foray Outdoors For Vegas

The city of Las Vegas has a deeper outdoor hockey history than you'd think. In fact, it goes back decades. Here's a look at where the roots in Vegas hockey were planted.

By Jacob Walters

Las Vegas Shows Support For Vegas Golden Knights During Stanley Cup Playoffs Run
Las Vegas Shows Support For Vegas Golden Knights During Stanley Cup Playoffs Run / Ethan Miller/GettyImages
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3. February 20, 2021: Vegas Golden Knights vs. Colorado Avalanche

NHL Outdoors At Lake Tahoe - Vegas Golden Knights v Colorado Avalanche
NHL Outdoors At Lake Tahoe - Vegas Golden Knights v Colorado Avalanche / Christian Petersen/GettyImages

But wait, there's more! The upcoming Winter Classic won't even be the first outdoor game the Golden Knights have played in. Yes, there was a contest outside during the pandemic, consisting of Vegas and the Colorado Avalanche.

The game was part of a set of outdoor games, with Vegas and Colorado for one game and Boston and Philadelphia for the other. The series was scheduled as a replacement for both the Winter Classic and the Stadium Series that year.

As for the game itself? Well, it was an interesting event. Play was suspended after the first period due to exposure to heat and sunlight. Yes, you read that right. The sun delayed the game, which didn't pick up until 9:02 PM PST. But, hey! The backdrop was beautiful!

The contest ended at 10:50 PM PST, with Colorado winning, 3-2. Thanks to Nathan Mackinnon's big game (one goal, two assists), the Avalanche got two points out of the affair, helping them win the Western Division. Still, Vegas got their revenge and eliminated Colorado in the Second Round, 4-2, before falling to Montreal in the Semifinals.

The upcoming Winter Classic shouldn't be as chaotic as the Lake Tahoe game. You won't have the sun roasting the ice in Seattle, nor will you have teams potentially bailing out due to COVID concerns. It should be an excellent contest with the defending champs taking on their fellow expansion team.

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