Wikipedia:2021 NHL Outdoor Games

The 2021 NHL Outdoor Games are a pair of proposed outdoor games for the 2020–21 NHL season to be televised on NBC in the United States.

Venue
The games will take place on the lake surrounding the 16th, 17th, and 18th hole of the Edgewood Tahoe Resort golf course in Stateline, Nevada (Lake Tahoe region). This is the same golf course that hosts the American Century Championship. The golf course lake was selected because actual Lake Tahoe does not freeze over and therefore is not suitable for ice hockey play. The average high temperature on February 20 is 44 degrees Fahrenheit with an average low of 18 degrees.

First game
On February 20 the Colorado Avalanche and the Vegas Golden Knights would play.

Second game
On February 21 the Philadelphia Flyers and Boston Bruins would play.

Team selection
The nearest teams to the venue are Vegas and the San Jose Sharks, but the Sharks are not taking part in the event due to uncertainties related to the NHL schedule in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. Fans will not be allowed at the event, so geographic location of teams is less important as no fans would travel to the event and instead the games are made-for-television showcases.

Philadelphia and Boston were offered the opportunity to be the teams in both games, but declined the opportunity and decided to partake in only one game.

Location selection
Edgewood Tahoe Resort was selected over Lake Louise, Alberta and Park City, Utah also considered. Since fans will likely not be in attendance, selection focused on natural landscape capable of mimicking pond hockey and not an in-person fan experience.

Scheduling logistics
With the NHL's condensed schedule and limited geographical travel, few days are provided in between games. However, allocations are made in the schedule to make travel more manageable.

Status of other 2021 outdoor games
The previously scheduled 2021 Winter Classic and the 2021 Stadium Series have both been cancelled due to the NHL's condensed schedule and divisional realignment for the season. This would make the 2021 NHL Outdoor Games games the 31st and 32nd outdoor games in league history.