This past weekend, the New Jersey Devils took part in one of the biggest games in recent memory against the Philadelphia Flyers at MetLife Stadium. For the first time in a decade, the Devils participated in the NHL's Stadium Series. In front of over 70,000 crazed hockey fans, the Devils came away with a victory in an important Metro Division showdown.
For Devils fans, this was the first taste of outdoor hockey on the national stage since that horrid game against the New York Rangers at Yankee Stadium a decade ago. Only this time around the team gave their fans something to cheer for, a 6-3 win.
The atmosphere, in-stadium production, and the game itself were all top-tier. A sea of red took over the biggest NFL stadium in the country. The chants of "you suck" rained down as the Devils' goal song, "Howl," was played live. It was a night that from beginning to end was a celebration of not just the Devils, but the fans and the great state of New Jersey.
While the attention now turns to the rest of the season and the Devils push for the playoffs, it will be interesting to see if the success from Saturday night leads to more outdoor games in the near future. It's a young and exciting team here in New Jersey, and it shouldn't be too long before they are at the top of the mountain.
Odds are that it will be a few years before the Devils play another outdoor game. However, there are a few potential interesting and exciting matchups that could happen. Projecting a few years into the future, here are a few outdoor ideas that would be great for the Devils, their fans, and the league.