A few days ago, Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings confronted each other on the ice, and one can say that Jackets came in hungry. James van Riemsdyk put on a show, scoring two goals and leading his team to a 5-2 win at Little Caesar’s Arena. But Detroit? Well, they were not going to let that pass without a fight. The perfect shot at redemption? None other than the grandest winter showdown—the Stadium Series. Because nothing screams hockey magic like an outdoor battle in the dead of winter, and this year, the NHL took the action straight to the heart of college football royalty.

With Ohio Stadium setting the stage, this epic clash between the Blue Jackets and Red Wings had fans on the edge of their frostbitten seats. Now, as the game rolls on, Columbus holds a 3-1 lead, proving they aren’t just here for the vibes. And with all this hype, the NHL commissioner couldn’t help but take notice, and let the cat out of the bag regarding the future of the Stadium Series.

Stadium Series gets a major update!

David Pagnotta, the mastermind behind The Fourth Period, hopped on X mid-game to spill some juicy hockey tea. While fans were locked into the Stadium Series action, he dropped a little behind-the-scenes scoop—none other than NHL commissioner Gary Bettman had joined him on @SiriusXMNHL for a chat. And, oh boy, did we get an update worth talking about.

Pagnotta followed up with the real kicker, letting fans in on what Bettman had to say: “Bettman reiterates the NHL’s working with Utah on getting an outdoor game in the not-to-distant future.” That’s right—Utah hockey fans, your time in the frosty spotlight might just be coming sooner than expected!

However, Ohio was off to the ice and history even before the puck was on the drop as Blue Jackets vs. Red Wings prepped for the stage to welcome more than 90K fans and thus, the second-largest crowd the NHL ever saw after the Winter Classic at The Big House in 2014. But do not be deceived by this record! While the stats looked incredible, some fans weren’t exactly in celebration mode when the game hit a frustrating delay.

Delay in the Stadium Series game frustrates fans!

The Stadium Series was all set to bring the magic of outdoor hockey to Ohio, but, well… it didn’t exactly start on time. And let’s just say, fans weren’t thrilled about standing in the freezing cold, waiting. Ryan Hana, host of @WingedWheelPod, hit X with a reality check, dropping, “Imagine sitting in the freezing cold for an outdoor NHL game in Ohio and having to wait longer for puck drop because there’s a college basketball game going on in Tennessee.” Yeah, you can already guess—people were not amused.

But just when everyone thought the worst was over and they could finally enjoy some high-intensity hockey, something else happened! The broadcast decided to throw a little surprise on the screen instead of the game. And by surprise, we mean… a dog. One frustrated viewer didn’t hold back, venting, “Then, when they finally get around to the game, they put a dog up on the screen! W*F #StadiumSeries.” Hockey fans came for slap shots, not tail wags.

And while fans are still trying to recover from that bizarre broadcast moment, they can’t quite wrap their heads around Utah now being in the NHL’s outdoor game discussions. Safe to say, emotions are all over the place.