Which NHL team won the first outdoor regular-season game, the 2003 Heritage Classic?

The Montreal Canadiens won the first outdoor NHL regular-season game, the 2003 Heritage Classic.

Montreal defeated the Edmonton Oilers 4–3 at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton on November 22, 2003. The game was the NHL’s first regular-season contest played outdoors and helped establish the outdoor-game tradition that later included the Winter Classic and Stadium Series. More than 57,000 spectators attended despite freezing conditions.

The Heritage Classic was played in Edmonton, so the host Oilers are sometimes remembered as the winners. Montreal, however, won the game. The Canadiens’ winning goal came from Richard Zednik, while Jose Theodore made 32 saves. The event followed earlier outdoor exhibition games and became a landmark for the league’s effort to connect modern NHL hockey with its outdoor roots.