Toronto Maple Leafs and Washington Capitals expected to play game at Naval Academy
After meeting in the first round of 2016 playoffs, the Toronto Maple Leaf and Washington Capitals are expected to renew their rivalry in an outdoor game at the Naval Academy.
After playing their second outdoor last season, it looks like the Toronto Maple Leafs will not have to wait long for the opportunity to take part in another one. It was reported by the Associated Press that the Washington Capitals will host the Leafs in a game at the Naval Academy east of Washington in Annapolis, Maryland.
U.S. service academy has never hosted an NHL game at the 34,000-seat Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. It is the home of the Navy football games and the Military Bowl, so it should be a memorable day once the announcement is made.
Commissioner Gary Bettman is expected to announce the game plus other league news in his state of the league address on Memorial Day.
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The Leafs are 2-0 in outdoor games which both came against the Detroit Red Wings; including a victory in the Winter Classic at the Big House which drew a crowd of 105,491 and a 5-4 victory in the Centennial Classic. Both games were big celebrations for the Leafs especially the latest overtime victory capped off by Auston Matthews‘ heroics.
The Capitals are also 2-0 in outdoor games, after playing their last one in 2015 at Nationals Park. With the Ottawa Senators hosting the Montreal Canadiens in the Heritage Classic and the New York Rangers playing the Buffalo Sabres in the Winter Classic, the NHL needed another marquee match up.
MLB were the last sports league to play at the Naval Academy. when the Washington Nationals played the Boston Red Sox in an exhibition game this past April. It is a nice way to honour the U.S. army and a great way to market the NHL with everyone still talking about the Olympics.
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It is also not a surprise that the NHL would pick the Leafs as the team to go against the Capitals, considering both teams had a hard-fought six-game series. It will be exciting to know more details on the game when the NHL is ready to announce it.