Normally, by late February, NHL teams are pushing hard for playoff spots as the regular season enters its final stretch. However, after the exciting 4 Nations Face-Off, many are hoping hockey can carry that energy forward.
One of the first challenges will be Saturday night when ESPN broadcasts the Stadium Series game between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Detroit Red Wings at Ohio Stadium.
“The season feels very different to me this year,” said ESPN’s Steve Levy, who will host the outdoor game. “I think the players involved or those who weren’t were energized by watching. The NHL has a lot of momentum at just the right time, and it has really helped kick-start the last part of the season.”
The league has several interesting storylines following the 4 Nations event. Washington’s Alexander Ovechkin is just 11 goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s career NHL record of 894 goals, and the trade deadline is less than a week away.
ESPN announced this week that it will add seven more games, including two featuring Ovechkin and the Capitals.
“That keeps the hockey interest going, and it motivates us both internally and externally. So, from 4 Nations to Ovechkin to the Stadium Series, it’s a great position for all of us right now,” said Linda Schulz, who oversees ESPN’s NHL production.
The Stadium Series is usually important because of the venue, but this game is especially significant for the Eastern Conference playoff race. After their 5-2 win on Thursday, Columbus is tied with Detroit for the first wild-card spot. Both teams have 66 points, four ahead of Ottawa, Boston, and the New York Rangers.
The Red Wings haven’t made the playoffs since 2016, while the Blue Jackets are still in contention despite grieving the tragic deaths of Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew in August. Columbus has made the playoffs just six times in 24 seasons, with their most recent appearance in 2020.
Alex Ovechkin celebrates after winningBeyond the rivalry between Ohio and Michigan, Ohio Stadium will provide an exciting setting. College stadiums tend to be better for NHL outdoor games because there is less sideline space, and fans are closer to the ice compared to baseball parks.
“The NHL does a great job of choosing iconic venues. And ‘The Horseshoe’ really embodies that,” Levy said. “If you’re naming the five most iconic college football stadiums, this one would be on the list, just like ‘The Big House’ in Michigan, which has also hosted an outdoor game.”
Since the game is outdoors, ESPN will use a drone to capture unique aerial views and try out new virtual graphics.
While Canada’s 3-2 overtime win over the U.S. in the 4 Nations championship drew a record 9.3 million viewers, Levy and ESPN hope that some of those fans will stick around for the rest of the season and into the playoffs.
“We’re not going to keep them all, but how many of those fans who were impressed by 4 Nations can we hold on to a bit longer? Everyone in this sport knows that once the Stanley Cup playoffs start, fans will stay for the intense, crazy postseason, no matter which teams are playing,” Levy said.
