The NHL is "expected to announce" that the Blackhawks will host the Bruins at Notre Dame Stadium for the '19 Winter Classic, according to Mark Lazerus of the CHICAGO SUN-TIMES. A source said that an "official announcement is expected in the coming weeks." This will be the Blackhawks' "league-leading fourth Winter Classic," after '09 at Wrigley Field, '15 at Nationals Park and '17 at Busch Stadium. It also will mark the Blackhawks' "sixth outdoor game total," while "eight teams have never played outdoors" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 11/8). In Boston, Stephen Harris writes this will be the third Winter Classic for the Bruins, who played at Fenway Park in '10 and Gillette Stadium in '16. The Blackhawks also have "hosted games at special venues: Chicago’s Soldier Field and Wrigley Field" (BOSTON HERALD, 11/8). CBSSPORTS.com's Kevin Skiver wrote it seems like the Blackhawks play outside "every other year." Original Six teams and franchises with "richer histories tend to get favored, but recently hockey fans outside of Chicago are growing discontented with the announcement of more Blackhawks games" outdoors (CBSSPORTS.com, 11/7).
