NHL Stadium Series By The Numbers

Here are some fun facts leading up to Saturday night’s Stadium Series game at Soldier Field.

0
Number of NHL games played at Soldier Field before the game to be played between the Chicago Blackhawks and Pittsburgh Penguins at the historic stadium as part of the 2014 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series™.

1
Number of Stanley Cups won by the Penguins with Sidney Crosby as captain.

2
Number of Stanley Cups won by the Blackhawks with Jonathan Toews as captain.

2
The Blackhawks are making their second appearance in a regular-season outdoor NHL game, having hosted the Detroit Red Wings in the 2009 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley Field. Detroit won the game 6-4.

2
Number of times the Blackhawks and Penguins have met in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, including the 1992 Stanley Cup Final, which the Penguins won 4-0. The other meeting came in the 1972 Quarterfinals, with Chicago winning the series 4-0.

3
Number of #1 overall draft picks expected to play in the game – Patrick Kane, Sidney Crosby and Marc-Andre Fleury.

3
The Penguins are making their third appearance in a regular-season outdoor NHL game, having defeated the Buffalo Sabres 2-1 in the 2008 NHL Winter Classic at Ralph Wilson Stadium, while losing 3-1 to the Washington Capitals in the 2011 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic at Heinz Field.

8
Number of youth players from the Admirals United Youth Hockey Club in Glen Ellyn, IL, slated to stand alongside Blackhawks and Penguins players in the McDonald’s Starting Lineup.

22
The ideal ice surface temperature, in Fahrenheit, for an NHL rink.

31
The number of games into Sidney Crosby’s rookie season that Eddie Olczyk lasted as the head coach of the Penguins (8-17-6).

53
Length, in feet, of the mobile rink refrigeration unit, specially designed and built for the NHL, to help cool the ice for all of the outdoor games.

69
Number of NHLers who have played for both the Penguins and Blackhawks, including members of the current teams Craig Adams, Marian Hossa and Michal Rozsival; and notables such as Eddie Olczyk, Marc Bergevin and Dale Tallon.

105
Number of points earned by the Penguins (43-63-19) in their 125 all-time regular-season meetings with the Blackhawks.

136
Number of columns (68 on each side) that make up the historic, twin colonnades at Soldier Field.

149
Number of points earned by the Blackhawks (65-41-19) in their 125 all-time regular-season meetings with the Penguins.

200
Amount of money per shot on goal McDonald’s and the NHL Foundation have pledged to the Ronald McDonald House Charities. A check in the amount tallied based on the outcome of the Blackhawks-Penguins game will be presented following the game.

243
Number of ice pans under the main rink at Soldier Field, each measuring 30” x 340” in size.

266
Combined number of head coaching wins for Eddie Johnston, the only person to be the head coach for the Penguins and Blackhawks. Johnston won 34 games behind the Blackhawks’ bench and 232 in two stints as the head coach of the Penguins. Current Penguins coach Dan Bylsma earlier this year passed Johnston for most coaching wins in Penguins history.

300
Ton capacity of the refrigeration trailer that will keep the ice cool at Soldier Field.

350
Gallons of paint used to make the ice of the main rink at Soldier Field white.

463
Distance, in miles, between Chicago’s United Center and the CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh.

1924
Year Soldier Field opened. Originally, it was a 45,000-seat facility named Municipal Grant Park Stadium.

2,500
Gallons of hot chocolate expected to be brewed at Soldier Field for the Stadium Series game on March 1st.

3,000
Gallons of coolant used to freeze the ice at Soldier Field.

10,000
Approximate gallons of water required to create each inch of ice thickness; an outdoor rink requires up to two inches of ice thickness to help withstand the more extreme elements.