The St. Louis Blues triumphed over the Wild with a decisive 6-4 victory in a bone-chilling NHL Winter Classic match held at Minneapolis’ Target Field on a frigid Saturday in Minnesota.
The Twins’ home stadium was enveloped in sub-zero temperatures on January 1st, 2022. A biting -22 degrees Celsius (excluding wind chill) failed to deter the Blues, who showcased their potent offensive capabilities.
Jordan Kyrou shone brightly, amassing two goals and two assists. His exceptional performance unfolded entirely during the second period, a period where the Missouri team notched five goals.
The frosty conditions seemed to suit David Perron, who opened the scoring for the Blues late in the first period, with assistance from Marco Scandella.
Despite the Siberian-like cold, as Vladimir Tarasenko described it, the Russian contingent excelled. Tarasenko himself tallied a goal, followed by his compatriot Ivan Barbashev.
Kirill Kaprizov contributed to the Wild’s scoring efforts. His 13th goal of the season marked his 40th career goal in just 86 games—a franchise record for fastest attainment of this milestone.
Upon arriving at Target Field, the Blues employed a playful psychological tactic: they disembarked their bus clad in beach attire. Their light shirts, shorts, and open jackets generated considerable amusement on social media.
Wild goaltender Cam Talbot sported a traditional toque atop his mask. The veteran netminder found solace in the warmth of the locker room after conceding six goals on 28 shots.
Kaapo Kahkonen entered the game early in the third period, but his time on the ice was brief as the Wild opted for an empty-net strategy. This decision proved fruitful when Kevin Fiala netted the team’s fourth goal.
Jordan Binnington proved impenetrable in the Blues’ net, thwarting 29 shots.
This match set a new record for the coldest NHL game in history. The previous record was established in 2003 when the Montreal Canadiens and Edmonton Oilers faced off at Commonwealth Stadium at −18 °C, a game won by the Canadiens, 4-3.