2027 NHL Winter Classic: Avalanche at Mammoth — Preview & Who to Watch
The NHL rings in the new year outdoors. The 2027 Winter Classic sends the Colorado Avalanche to face the Utah Mammoth under the lights at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on December 31, 2026 — a marquee showcase for Utah's young franchise and a mountain-division rivalry in the making.
Utah's outdoor spotlight
The Winter Classic is the NHL's signature regular-season event, and handing it to the Utah Mammoth puts the league's newest identity on its biggest stage. Rice-Eccles Stadium — home of University of Utah football — hosts the outdoor rink, and a New Year's Eve national audience gets a look at a rapidly growing hockey market.
A heavyweight visitor
The opponent is no gift: the Colorado Avalanche arrive as the reigning Presidents' Trophy winners, led by Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar. It's a Central Division clash with real stakes and star power, exactly the kind of matchup the Winter Classic is built for.
Ones to Watch
Our picks below are informed opinion based on the facts above — not a crystal ball.
The spotlight is on the franchise itself — its new name, its passionate new market, and a signature moment to announce itself to the wider hockey world.
The Avalanche don't do quiet nights when MacKinnon is on the ice. On an outdoor stage, the league's most electric talent is the headline act.
A defenseman who plays like a fourth forward. The outdoor ice and a big stage are exactly where Makar's end-to-end game shines.
How to watch: the Winter Classic airs on TNT in the US (and Sportsnet in Canada). For every national window and how to follow both teams all season, see our How to Watch the NHL in 2026-27 guide.
Full game details & how to watch →
Results and standings verified as of publication (Wednesday, July 29, 2026). "Ones to watch" are our opinion — see our Editorial Policy. Start times shown in US Eastern; on the schedule they convert to your local zone.