The Chicago Blackhawks are back outdoors Sunday to take on the Minnesota Wild in this year’s NHL Stadium Series. The two teams face off at TCF Bank Stadium, home of the University of Minnesota football team, in what should be a fun, festive day of hockey.
The action at TCF Bank Stadium started on Saturday with the Alumni Game between the Blackhawks and “North Stars,” which ended in a 6-4 Minnesota victory. It was still cool watching the likes of Denis Savard, Eric Daze and others, even if they couldn’t put together a win.
The hockey should be a bit faster and more competitive when the real NHL teams meet Sunday. The Blackhawks are first in the Western Conference with 81 points, although they have a game in hand on the 80-point Stars. The Wild have been stumbling, with a 3-5-2 record over their past 10 games, but remain firmly in the hunt for a wild card spot and could badly use a victory Sunday. Minnesota recently changed coaches, firing Mike Yeo and installing interim John Torchetti.
The Hawks will once again be without forward Marian Hossa on Sunday, which is actually the first day he is eligible to come off injured reserve. There’s no need to rush back the 37-year-old with a big playoff run on the horizon, though, so we’ll likely be seeing at least one more game with Andrew Shaw and Richard Panik flanking captain Jonathan Toews on the top line.
This is the first Blackhawks game of the season to be broadcast on national television, so hopefully they give fans a good show. Here’s everything you need to know to watch the 2016 Stadium Series this afternoon:
2016 NHL Stadium Series, Blackhawks vs. Wild
Time: 2:30 p.m. CT
Where: TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minn.
TV: NBC (U.S.); TVA Sports, Sportsnet (Canada)
Live streaming: NBC Sports Live Extra