Each day, our writers here at Last Word On Hockey look at the games and give in-depth analysis. Our team breaks down the key matchups, storylines, and stats, then makes predictions based on how they might play out.

Two Eastern Conference foes take things outside on Friday in South Beach, as the Florida Panthers get set to host the New York Rangers in the 2026 NHL Winter Classic. The Rangers and Panthers will face off at loanDepot Park, the usual home of Major League Baseball’s Miami Marlins.

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The Pittsburgh Penguins are expected to start Stuart Skinner, who carries a .888 save percentage into this matchup. On the other end of the ice, John Gibson is slated to start for the Detroit Red Wings. Like Skinner, Gibson brings a sub-.900 save percentage into this meeting.

Currently, the Red Wings sit first in the Atlantic, one point ahead of the second-place Tampa Bay Lightning. The Penguins have stumbled down to fifth in the Metro, one point back of the last Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. Time: 12 p.m. ET

After the Calgary Flames traded Tkachuk to the Panthers in the summer of 2022, he instantly changed the fortunes of the franchise. Florida has reached the Stanley Cup Final in each season with him on the roster, and Tkachuk has 88 goals and 166 assists in 211 games. In the postseason, Tkachuk has 25 goals and 69 points in 67 games.

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All the ways to watch NHL Winter Classic 2026 live streams for FREE, with LoanDepot Park in Miami hosting the warm-weather Rangers vs Panthers showdown.