The NHL Stadium Series is, when at its best, not just a celebration of the sport.
It is also a celebration of the event’s host state.
In that regard, the 2024 edition of the NHL Stadium Series at MetLife Stadium deserves an A+.
Say what you want about the look of MetLife, but on Saturday evening, the often-criticized building became not just a hockey hub, but also an extravagant nod to New Jersey, with the host team leaning all the way into the effort.
After taking a team vote, the Devils players decided to make their way into the stadium decked out in tracksuits, slicked back hair, and gold chains around their necks, as Timo Meier looked the part of Tony Soprano, Dawson Mercer giving off Christopher Moltisanti vibes, and so on. The team that once called the Meadowlands home had NHL fans buzzing with their entrance, as The Sopranos theme won out over another Jersey fixture, Bruce Springsteen, in which the Devils would have rocked jeans with a red hat hanging out of their back pocket, reminiscent of The Boss on his iconic “Born in the USA” album cover.
The visiting squad leaned into the bit themselves (continuing a Stadium Series staple of coordinated player arrival outfits), as the Flyers poured out of their team buses wearing matching gray sweatshirts and sweatpants with black beanies, taking on the look of “Philadelphia’s Favorite Son,” Rocky Balboa, to the delight of the mass of Philly fans that had made the short trip up the Turnpike.
The large representation of both fanbases made for a palpable buzz outside the stadium (though still clearly Jersey heavy), as the 70,328 that would soon enter MetLife battled the cold in contrasting red and orange sweaters, bringing back memories of when Devils fans tailgated in the swamps of Jersey back when they called Continental Airlines Arena home.
Still hours from puck drop, fans crowded the empty stage on one end of MetLife, eagerly waiting for Jersey’s own, the Jonas Brothers, to play their pregame show. New Brunswick’s The Gaslight Anthem would populate a nearby stage soon after, ready to play their song “Howl, the Devils goal song, as New Jersey took the ice (before Jake Clemons, saxophonist touring with Springsteen, played the National Anthem). For a stadium that is often lacking in character, the Stadium Series managed to make the event ooze with local pride and character.
Sometimes, the pageantry of a special event can take away from the game itself. The Super Bowl falls victim to that at times. But on Saturday, as the Jonas Brothers performed their set, members of the Devils made sure to stay within their pregame routine, standing outside in a circle and kicking a soccer ball to each other just steps away from the stage. In the middle of the crowd beside them was Gritty, as the unmistakable Flyers mascot rocked out to “Sucker.” It was a wild scene, but in the most fantastic way (especially when people emerged during every break in the action to walk dogs or ride bikes through the Jersey-style park constructed just behind the penalty boxes outside the rink).
Though the separate Winter Classic games sometimes seem like more of a celebration of hockey, in East Rutherford, it felt like the Stadium Series found a seamless marriage between celebrating the game and the location. Sometimes, the location backfires, as there have been installments of the event where the elements got in the way, whether it be heavy snow falling on the ice at Soldier Field in 2014 or glare delaying Devils/Rangers at Yankee Stadium that same year. But on Saturday, after a morning of snowfall in the area, there was an undeniable winter chill fitting for hockey, but not enough to take away from the viewing experience. Sometimes, the stars just have to align.
It felt like everything fell into place for Devils head coach Lindy Ruff, who avenged his outdoor heartbreak after being behind the bench as the Sabres head coach when they lost to the Penguins at the inaugural Winter Classic in Buffalo in 2008.
“I do like it. I think it helps showcase our team. It helps showcase the product,” Ruff said. “You get to go back to the roots for a lot of us…playing outdoors, playing in the elements. I think it’s a heck of an event.
“The event has become bigger and better. I think the league has done an unbelievable job with it. It’s an honor for the New Jersey Devils to be a part of this.”
The players certainly seemed to enjoy the stage, including Nate Bastian, who took off one of his gloves to do the Tommy DeVito hand celebration after a snipe of a goal in the second period, as the Devil made sure to put his own Jersey flair on the night.
A lot has changed in the decade since there was last an NHL outdoor game in the New York area. Clearly, the league has found a sweet spot with honoring the home state of their outdoor venues in the time since, culminating in a New Jersey, and a hockey, celebration on Saturday night. MetLife never looked so good, and never felt more like a part of the Garden State.