Islanders, Rangers Stadium Series at MetLife Stadium set for February 18

Islanders, Rangers Stadium Series at MetLife Stadium set for February 18

Semyon Varlamov, right, of the New York Islanders, makes a breakaway save on Artemi Panarin, left, of the New York Rangers during the third period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Feb. 8, 2021, in New York. (Bruce Bennett/Pool Photo via AP)

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The league announced two outdoor Stadium Series games next season in East Rutherford, New Jersey, at MetLife Stadium — home of the NFL’s New York Jets and Giants. The Philadelphia Flyers are set to play the New Jersey Devils on Feb. 17 followed by the New York Rangers against the Islanders on Feb. 18.

This is the first time the NHL is playing outside in the state of New Jersey. It comes 10 years after the Rangers played a pair of games, one each against the Islanders and Devils, at Yankee Stadium.

The Rangers played the Buffalo Sabres at Citi Field in the Winter Classic in 2018. This is the Devils’ first outdoor game since 2014, and it comes on the heels of their second playoff appearance over the past 11 years.

“When a team is on the rise, we want to showcase them,” NHL senior executive VP and chief content officer Steve Mayer said. “The time is right.”

(Bruce Bennett/Pool Photo via AP)