What is the name of the NHL's annual outdoor game typically played on New Year's Day?

The NHL's annual outdoor game traditionally played around New Year's Day is called the Winter Classic. It is a regular-season game staged in a large outdoor venue, often a baseball or football stadium.

The first Winter Classic was played on January 1, 2008, at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. The Buffalo Sabres hosted the Pittsburgh Penguins, and Pittsburgh won 2–1 in a shootout. The event quickly became one of the NHL's signature showcases, combining professional hockey with the atmosphere of a major outdoor sporting occasion.

The Winter Classic is commonly confused with the Heritage Classic and Stadium Series. All three are NHL outdoor-game brands, but they are not interchangeable. The Heritage Classic is associated primarily with games in Canada, while the Stadium Series generally refers to additional outdoor games held at various venues. The Winter Classic is the league's best-known New Year's outdoor tradition, although scheduling has occasionally shifted by a day.