By Stuart Mason
NHL Public Relations
Quick Hits:
* Crucial standings points will be on the line at “The Shoe” as Columbus and Detroit look to break away from the peloton in the Eastern Conference’s Wild Card race. The Red Wings and Blue Jackets have 66 points apiece and occupy the first and final Wild Card spot, respectively, as each team aims to end a lengthy postseason drought.
* Zach Werenski and Dylan Larkin shone for USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off and will skate in the NHL’s next tentpole event just over a week after competing in the tournament’s championship game.
* Werenski, Adam Fantilli, Kirill Marchenko, Boone Jenner and several other players can make their outdoor game debut with Columbus. Werenski and Fantilli are two of many former Wolverines that could skate for the Blue Jackets or Red Wings on March 1, while Jack Johnson is one of a dozen Michigan alumni who went on to win the Stanley Cup and has a family connection to a decorated erstwhile Buckeyes linebacker.
* Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider are also set to make their outdoor game debut and can do so alongside several veterans of open-air contests such as Larkin, Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko, who can all climb various all-time lists.
* Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, will be honored at the event and there are also plans to celebrate the Buckeyes’ national-champion football, women’s hockey and Spirit programs.
Quick Clicks:
* Outdoor Game List
* Outdoor Game Standings
* Outdoor Game Skater Records
* Outdoor Game Goaltender Records
* Outdoor Game Team Records
* Outdoor Game Skater Register
* Outdoor Game Goaltender Register
* The 2025 Stadium Series is set to mark the third outdoor game in NHL history involving teams that are tied in points entering play. The 2014 Stadium Series at Soldier Field pitted the Metropolitan Division-leading Penguins (40-15-4, 84 points) against the Blackhawks (35-12-14, 84 points) who ranked second in the Central Division, while the 2014 Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium featured the Red Wings (18-14-9, 45 points) and Maple Leafs (20-16-5, 45 points) who occupied the Eastern Conference’s first and final Wild Card spot, respectively.
* Detroit will contest its fifth outdoor game in franchise history, following wins in the 2016 Stadium Series at Coors Field and 2009 Winter Classic at Wrigley Field as well as an overtime loss in the 2017 Centennial Classic at Exhibition Stadium and a shootout defeat in the 2014 Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium. The Red Wings (2-0-2 in 4 GP) can become the fifth franchise with three wins in open-air contests, joining the Rangers (5-0-0 in 5 GP), Bruins (4-1-0 in 5 GP), Blues (3-0-0 in 3 GP) and Capitals (3-1-0 in 4 GP).
* Columbus and Detroit competed in the Central Division for 12 seasons from 2000-01 to 2012-13 and then in the Discover Central Division during the 2020-21 campaign. The Blue Jackets have more games (114 GP) and wins (47) against the Red Wings than any other franchise.
* Werenski ranks second in goals and points among blueliners this season and tops all of the franchise’s lists for scoring by a defenseman. Werenski can become the 10th player in NHL history to contest an outdoor game with a franchise as that club’s all-time points leader among blueliners (also Dustin Byfuglien, Drew Doughty, Vince Dunn, Victor Hedman, Roman Josi, Erik Karlsson, Kris Letang, Nicklas Lidstrom & Shea Theodore). Lidstrom, who is now Detroit’s VP of hockey operations, topped the Red Wings’ all-time leaderboard entering the 2009 Winter Classic at Wrigley Field.
* Marchenko has enjoyed a breakout season and owns a four- and five-goal edge on Kent Johnson and Dmitri Voronkov, respectively, for the team lead. Marchenko became the first player in franchise history with three consecutive 20-goal campaigns from the start of his career.
* Jenner, who returned to the lineup on Feb. 22, was chosen by Columbus with the No. 37 pick in the 2011 NHL Draft and is contesting his franchise-record 12th season with the Blue Jackets. Jenner has donned the “C” in each of the last four campaigns and is one of seven captains in club history.
* van Riemsdyk is set to appear in his NHL-record eighth career outdoor game as well as his third against Detroit. His six points in open-air contests are the third most in League history behind Jonathan Toews (2-5—7 in 6 GP) and former Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg (0-7—7 in 4 GP).
* Seider has skated in all 305 games contested by Detroit since his NHL debut on Oct. 14, 2021. His 167 points were the third most among Red Wings defensemen through 300 career games behind Reed Larson (238) and Nicklas Lidstrom (190).
* Patrick Kane (1-2—3 in 6 GP) can become the second player in NHL history to appear in seven outdoor games, following Columbus forward James van Riemsdyk (7 GP). Kane skated with Chicago in the 2019 Winter Classic at Notre Dame Stadium, 2017 Winter Classic at Busch Stadium, 2016 Stadium Series at TCF Bank Stadium, 2015 Winter Classic at Nationals Park, 2014 Stadium Series at Soldier Field and 2009 Winter Classic at Wrigley Field.
* Alex DeBrincat skated alongside Kane in the 2019 Winter Classic at Notre Dame Stadium and reunited with his longtime teammate when Kane was signed by Detroit on Nov. 28, 2023. DeBrincat leads the team with 27 tallies this season and has reached the 20-goal mark in seven of his eight career campaigns.
* Vladimir Tarasenko (3-0—3 in 2 GP) and van Riemsdyk can become the third and fourth players in NHL history with four career goals in outdoor games, following David Pastrnak (4 in 3 GP) and Tyler Toffoli (4 in 3 GP). Tarasenko tallied once with St. Louis in the 2022 Winter Classic at Target Field and twice for the Blues in the 2017 Winter Classic at Busch Stadium.
* Adam Fantilli (2022-23), Zach Werenski (2014-15 to 2015-16) and Dylan Larkin (2014-15) as well as Kent Johnson (2020-21 to 2021-22), J.T. Compher (2013-14 to 2015-16), Tyler Motte (2013-14 to 2015-16) and Jack Johnson (2005-06 to 2006-07) all played for the Michigan Wolverines. Andrew Copp (2012-13 to 2014-15), who will miss the remainder of the season, is also an alumnus.
* Fantilli skated with Michigan during their 4-2 loss outdoors against the Ohio State Buckeyes at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland on Feb. 18, 2023. Fantilli assisted on the Wolverines’ first goal, which was scored by Gavin Brindley (who made his NHL debut with Columbus on April 16, 2024).
Photos via IG/@luca.fantilli, X/@umichhockey
* Werenski was born in Grosse Pointe and played minor hockey with Belle Tire and Little Caesars before joining USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program. The NTDP is based out of Plymouth and has produced plenty of NHL stars including Werenski and Larkin as well as fellow Wolverines alumni Compher, Copp, J. Johnson and Motte.
* Larkin was born in Waterford and played alongside Werenski as well as Compher, Copp and Motte during his one season with the Wolverines. Larkin has donned the “C” for in each of the last five seasons and became the first Michigan-born captain in franchise history.
* K. Johnson hit “The Michigan” against the Islanders on March 24, 2023, and is one of four players to score a lacrosse-style goal since the cradle shot type was officially tracked by the NHL starting in 2022-23. The nickname originates from when former Wolverines forward Mike Legg famously pulled off the move versus the Minnesota Golden Gophers on March 24, 1996.
* Compher and J. Johnson won a Stanley Cup with the 2022 Avalanche. They are two of 12 former Wolverines players with at least one Cup in NHL history (also Red Berenson, Andrew Cogliano, Carl Hagelin, Pat Hughes, Mike Knuble, John Madden, Kevin Porter, John Sherf, Blake Sloan & Aaron Ward).
* J. Johnson earned his general studies degree from Michigan just before winning the Cup, fulfilling a promise he made to former Wolverines head coach Berenson. Johnson’s in-laws are Columbus native and former NFL quarterback Brady Quinn, Olympic silver medal-winning gymnast Alicia Quinn as well as A.J. Hawk, who won a Super Bowl as a linebacker with the Green Bay Packers and a national championship in his home state with the Buckeyes.
Photo via X/@keeperofthecup
* Bruins teammates Mason Lohrei (2021-22 to 2022-23) and Georgii Merkulov (2021-22), Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (2021-22 to 2023-23), Canucks forward Dakota Joshua (2015-16 to 2018-19), Golden Knights forward Tanner Laczynski (2016-17 to 2019-20) as well as Lightning goaltender Matt Tomkins (2013-14 to 2016-17) are the six former Buckeyes who have played at least one game this season.
* Columbus has had five former Buckeyes play at least one game in franchise history, including R.J. Umberger and Nate Guenin. Umberger scored the first playoff goal in club history against the Red Wings in Game 1 of the 2009 Conference Quarterfinals, while Guenin served as Ohio State’s assistant coach last season.
* Sean Kuraly was born in Niagara Falls, N.Y., but raised in the Columbus suburb of Dublin and played minor hockey for the Ohio Blue Jackets as well as four seasons with the Miami RedHawks program from 2012-13 to 2015-16. Miami is located approximately 100 miles southwest of Columbus in Oxford.
* Cole Sillinger was born in Columbus after his father, Mike, concluded his second and final campaign with the Blue Jackets. Cole’s older brother, Owen (who was born in Regina), was signed by the Blue Jackets on July 1, 2024, and made his NHL debut with Columbus on Jan. 9.
Photo via X/@OhioStAthletics
* Alex DeBrincat was born in Farmington Hills and played minor hockey with the Victory Honda program before a decorated junior career with the OHL’s Erie Otters, who are located approximately 200 miles northeast of Columbus. DeBrincat competed against current teammate Joe Veleno at the 2017 Memorial Cup before reaching the NHL.
* Jeff Petry was born in Ann Arbor just four days after his father, Dan, was traded by the Detroit Tigers to the California Angels. The younger Petry, who has been sidelined since Jan. 2, became the second player in NHL history whose dad was in the MLB and one a few with a father that played in any of the other major North American pro sports leagues.
Photo via IG/@jeffpetry26
* Sheldon Dries was born in Macomb and played four seasons with the Western Michigan Broncos from 2013-14 to 2016-17. His cousin, Danny, played two seasons with the Ohio State Buckeyes from 2010-11 to 2011-12 and Sheldon’s uncle, Ray, served as captain of the Michigan Wolverines during the 1984-85 season.
* Dominik Shine was born in Pinckney and played parts of four seasons with the Northern Michigan Wildcats (2013-14 to 2016-17) as well as nine with the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins (2013-14 to 2024-25) before making his NHL debut at age 31 on Jan. 27.
* Kuraly, Christian Fischer, Patrick Kane, Kevin Labanc, James van Riemsdyk and Austin Watson also skated with USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program.
18,034 – Registered players in Ohio last season per USA Hockey. That represents a nearly 5,000-player increase from 20 years ago (four seasons after the Blue Jackets’ debut), including a jump from 767 to 1,894 for female participants.
1998 – Year that Columbus’ president of hockey operations, general manager and alternate governor Don Waddell won the Stanley Cup as an assistant GM with Detroit.
992 – Players who have appeared in at least one outdoor game in NHL history (929 skaters & 63 goaltenders).
313 – Yards rushed by decorated former Michigan Wolverines running back Tim Biakabutuka against the Ohio State Buckeyes on Nov. 25, 1995. Biakabutuka’s nephew, Jeremie, skated a preseason game with the Red Wings on Sept. 28, 2022, as well as three contests with the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins from April 10-15, 2023.
304 – Players that have appeared in at least one game this season who played for an NCAA program, including 30 with the Wolverines and six for the Buckeyes.
231 – Passing yards by Ohio State quarterback Will Howard in the Buckeyes’ national championship-clinching win against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Jan. 20. Columbus players wore Ohio State jerseys before the Blue Jackets’ game against the Islanders that night, a few days after Wolverines alumni Adam Fantilli, Kent Johnson and Dylan Larkin opted not to after being pranked by Fanatics.
229.17 – Miles skated by Zach Werenski this season according to NHL EDGE, the highest total among all players and nearly 1.5x the distance between Columbus and Detroit (164 miles).
141 – Picked used by the Canadiens in the 1986 NHL Draft to select Lyle Odelein, who later became the Blue Jackets’ first captain. Odelein was chosen 10 picks ahead of Ohio State’s current head coach Steve Rohlik (No. 151 by PIT).
140 – Games that Cole and Owen Sillinger’s father, Mike, played for the Red Wings across parts of four seasons from 1990-91 to 1994-95 (regular season & playoffs). Detroit was the first of 12 franchises that the eldest Sillinger skated with during his 17-season career, which mark the most by one player in NHL history.
43 – Outdoor games in NHL history including the 2025 Stadium Series, with two more scheduled for next season when the Panthers host the Rangers in the 2026 Winter Classic at loanDepot park and the Bruins visit the Lightning during the 2026 Stadium Series at Raymond James Stadium.
41 – Saves that Jet Greaves made with the ECHL’s Kalamazoo Wings in their 3-2 shootout win outdoors against Alex DeBrincat’s brother, Andrew, and the Toledo Walleye at Fifth Third Field in Toledo on Dec. 26, 2021. Greaves also backstopped the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters to a 3-2 overtime victory outdoors versus the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland on March 4, 2023, while Jake Christiansen and Owen Sillinger each had an assist.
27 – Combined minutes of ice-time logged by Red Wings prospect Kienan Draper and 2025 NHL Draft hopeful Will Horcoff with the Wolverines during their 4-3 loss outdoors against the Buckeyes at Wrigley Field on Jan. 3. Draper’s father, Kris, and Horcoff’s dad, Shawn, are currently assistant GMs with Detroit.
26 – Outdoor games played at football venues in League history including the 2025 Stadium Series. The 17 others took place in baseball parks (14 GP), atop a golf course (2 GP) and at a soccer stadium (1 GP).
25 – Age (in years) of the Blue Jackets’ mascot Stinger, who helped promote the 2025 Stadium Series when he joined ESPN’s College GameDay at Ohio Stadium before the Buckeyes beat the Indiana Hoosiers on Nov. 23, 2024.
24 – Team-leading goal total by Joy Dunne with the Ohio State women’s program last season, including the national championship-clinching tally against the Wisconsin Badgers with 7:12 remaining in regulation on March 24, 2024. Dunne’s brother, Josh, played parts of two seasons with Columbus from 2020-21 to 2022-23.
19 – Goals scored by “The Michigan” originator Mike Legg with the ECHL’s Columbus Chill during the 1998-99 season. The Chill contested eight campaigns from 1991-92 to 1998-99 and were known for their creative marketing tactics as well as their loyal fanbase, which helped with the NHL awarding a franchise to the city.
18 – U.S. states that have hosted at least one outdoor game in NHL history including Ohio, with Florida set to become the 19th next season. Washington, D.C., and five Canadian provinces have also hosted.
10 – Face-offs won by J.T. Compher‘s sister, Jesse, when she helped the Badgers earn a 1-0 national championship-clinching win against the Buckeyes on March 19, 2023. Jesse has 8-7—15 in 21 games with the PWHL’s Toronto Sceptres this season, including a highlight-reel goal against the Montreal Victoire on Dec. 21, 2024.
6 – Seasons played in the NHL by Elvis Merzlikins, who owns the third-most wins in franchise history. He trails Sergei Bobrovsky (213) and Steve Mason (96).
5 – Columbus and Detroit players who skated with the Wolverines during their 4-1 win outdoors against the Michigan State Spartans at Soldier Field in Chicago on Feb. 7, 2015 (J.T. Compher, Andrew Copp, Dylan Larkin, Tyler Motte & Zach Werenski). Copp and Motte connected on the Wolverines’ third goal while Larkin logged an assist on an empty-netter.
5 – Instances in NHL history where a father and two of his sons played for the same franchise. Mike, Cole and Owen Sillinger joined Peter, Paul and Yan Stastny with the Blues, Gordie, Mark and Marty Howe with the Hartford Whalers, Bryan Sr., Bryan Jr. and Dennis Hextall with the Rangers as well as Lester, Lynn and Muzz Patrick with the Rangers.
4.75 – Miles skated by Zach Werenski against Carolina on Nov. 23, 2024, double the distance from Nationwide Arena to Ohio Stadium and tied for the second highest single-game total this season according to NHL EDGE.
4 – Seasons that Detroit’s assistant general manager and director of hockey operations Aaron Kahn played as a goaltender with the Buckeyes’ club team from 2012-13 to 2015-16. He was added to the varsity team’s roster on Nov. 14, 2013, but never appeared in a game.
2 – Sets of siblings to play a game for Columbus, with Cole and Owen Sillinger joining twin brothers Kris (292 GP from 2007-08 to 2011-12) and Ryan Russell (41 GP in 2011-12).
2 – Years that Twenty One Pilots lead vocalist Tyler Joseph attended Ohio State. The Grammy Award-winning rock duo from Columbus will give a special intermission performance at Ohio Stadium after platinum-certified band O.A.R. headlines the pre-game NHL Stadium Series Pep Rally.
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