Thu Feb 27 23:40:00 UTC 2025: ## Blue Jackets to Host Red Wings in Historic NHL Stadium Series Game
**COLUMBUS, OH** – Get ready for a hockey showdown of epic proportions! The Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings will clash in a highly anticipated home-and-home series culminating in the NHL’s Stadium Series game at Ohio Stadium on Saturday. This marks the first outdoor game in Blue Jackets franchise history and the first NHL game ever played at the iconic Ohio Stadium, home of the Ohio State Buckeyes. A crowd of approximately 90,000 is expected, making it the second-largest attendance in NHL history.
The game holds immense playoff implications for both teams, currently vying for a postseason berth in the Eastern Conference. The Red Wings, holding the first wild-card spot, and the Blue Jackets, clinging to the second, are locked in a fierce battle for playoff positioning. This series follows a Thursday night matchup at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
The Blue Jackets, exceeding expectations this season, are led by Zach Werenski’s impressive performance (62 points, 44 assists), and Kirill Marchenko’s team-high 23 goals. The team’s success comes despite the absence of key center Sean Monahan since early January and the tragic preseason losses of winger Johnny Gaudreau and his brother.
The Red Wings, meanwhile, will be without Andrew Copp for the remainder of the season following surgery. Lucas Raymond (63 points, 41 assists) and Alex DeBrincat (26 goals) lead the Red Wings’ offensive charge. Red Wings veteran James van Riemsdyk will participate in his eighth outdoor game, a league high.
This highly anticipated matchup promises to be a memorable event, combining the thrill of playoff hockey with the spectacle of an outdoor game in front of a massive crowd.
First Piper 