The Winter Classic "will likely make" its N.Y. debut on New Year’s Day '18, with an outdoor game at Citi Field between the Rangers and Sabres "close to being finalized," according to sources cited by Arthur Staple of NEWSDAY. The Winter Classic has been "held all around the Eastern half of the U.S." but never in N.Y. There were "rumored talks of the Rangers playing the Winter Classic at West Point, but those plans apparently did not materialize for the upcoming season" (NEWSDAY, 3/16). In N.Y., Justin Tasch notes the Rangers have "played in two outdoor Stadium Series games," defeating both the Devils and Islanders in January '14 at Yankee Stadium. The Sabres "likely would be the home team" for the '18 game because MSG's tax exemption with the city is "dependent on the Rangers and Knicks playing all their home games there." The Rangers were the road team for both games at Yankee Stadium in '14 (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/16). In Buffalo, Mike Harrington notes there had been "chatter for more than a year that the Sabres were interested in hosting" the '18 game in a nod to the 10th anniversary of the first Winter Classic, which they also hosted. But that speculation was "put to rest when plans were announced last year for an outdoor game" as part of the '18 World Junior Championships (BUFFALO NEWS, 3/16). Sabres C Jack Eichel said, "Being part of the whole buildup to the event and being able to play outside would be great. ... I know nothing is set in stone yet but to maybe play in New York City against the Rangers would be a lot of fun" (BUFFALO NEWS, 3/16).
