The fans may get sick of the same teams playing in the NHL Winter Classic. However, Canadiens fans can't necessarily complain, considering they have been part of many unique games. Wrigley Field and the Chicago Blackhawks will host the Winter Classic for the second time in the NHL's history. They'll take on one of their biggest rivals, the St. Louis Blues. It isn't the first time the Blackhawks and Blues played in the Winter Classic.
The Blackhawks have played in the Winter Classic four times: 2009, 2015, 2017, and 2019. Wrigley Field hosted the second Winter Classic in 2019, with the Detroit Red Wings defeating the Blackhawks 6-4 in front of 40,818 fans. The Blackhawks next played in a puzzling matchup as they traveled to Nationals Park to battle the Washington Capitals. The Blackhawks lost again 3-2 in front of 42,832 fans.
The first game of this two-game series took place in 2017. Busch Stadium hosted the Blackhawks and Blues matchup, which makes the 2025 edition even more special. The St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs are among the top rivals in the MLB, and their NHL siblings facing off in a game in each of their stadiums is an incredible experience. The Blues defeated the Blackhawks 4-1 in the inaugural matchup.
The fourth Blackhawks matchup happened in South Bend, Indiana, at Notre Dame Stadium. The Blackhawks battled the Boston Bruins, with the Bruins escaping with a 4-2 victory. There were 76,126 fans in attendance to watch the event.
The Blues have only been in two previous Winter Classics. They had the 2017 matchup with the Blackhawks, and also played against the Minnesota Wild in 2022. The game was originally set to take place in 2021, but they delated it for a year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Blues defeated the Wild 6-4 in one of the highest scoring games in event history, tied with Blackhawks-Red Wings in 2009.