Weather conditions might not have been great, but they did little to affect the ice as far as Niklas Hjalmarsson is concerned.

The Chicago Blackhawks defenseman marveled at the state of the ice at Busch Stadium on Monday, he even went as far as to throw shade at the state of the ice inside at an NHL rink.

"The ice was really good," Hjalmarsson said, according to Puck Daddy's Greg Wyshynski. "Probably better than that last game in Carolina."

That being said, goaltender Corey Crawford didn't see things quite the same way.

"The ice was pretty bad," Crawford said, according to Chris Kuc of The Chicago Tribune. "(The puck) was jumping all over the place."

Crawford could have a point, since the ice certainly seemed to tilt in the Blues' favor, as the club skated off to a 4-1 victory.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Busch Stadium is widely considered one of the nicest ballparks across baseball, so what could make it even more picturesque? A hockey rink, of course.

The host St. Louis Blues and rival Chicago Blackhawks took part in the latest running of the Winter Classic on Monday afternoon, and it was quite a scene.

Here are the best photos from the spectacle:

The Scene

Generations of Stars

Selfie Time

Cover Up

1 on 1

Celebrate

Taking Flight

Captains

Focus

Victory Formation

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's going to be real dusty at the Bridgestone Arena on Tuesday night.

Shea Weber, who spent 11 years - six as captain - patrolling the blue line for the Nashville Predators, returns to the city as a member of the Montreal Canadiens, and it's going to be bittersweet and emotional.

"You know Shea meant everything to this franchise," general manager David Poile, who traded Weber to the Habs in the summer for P.K. Subban, told reporters Monday. "I think it's going to be emotional for so many people including myself to have him back in our building."

Weber's been honest about the emotion that came with a life-altering trade over the summer. The shock's worn off, and he's settling into life as a Canadien, and is fifth on the first-place team in scoring, with nine goals and 12 assists. The 31-year-old's also been honest.

"I wanted to be in Nashville my whole career," Weber told The Tennessean's Adam Vingan. "Especially a team where you're drafted and you spend so much time, you want to bring the Stanley Cup to that city. That's your goal ... That didn't happen."

The Predators will honor Weber on Tuesday, and there will be cheers and tears.

"When I think of the Nashville Predators, (Weber's) right at the top of the list for me," Poile told Vingan. "I think this franchise would've been in a lot of trouble if not for Shea Weber. It all started with Shea. Shea could do it all."

Weber's chapter as a Predator will officially come to an end Tuesday. Closure, for everyone but Subban, who will make his return to Montreal on March 2.

"I'm not going to lie - there's probably going to be a lot of emotion. I'm human," Weber said. "I spent a lot of time (in Nashville). I put a lot of hard work and effort into everything I did there."

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It's fitting that Monday's Winter Classic was played at Busch Stadium after Corey Crawford showed off his swing.

The Chicago Blackhawks goaltender took exception to an accidental trip by St. Louis Blues forward David Perron, collecting himself before taking a two-handed swing at the 28-year-old.

It appears as though Crawford may have missed making contact with Perron and because of that Crawford would go unpenalized on the play.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Vladimir Tarasenko stole the show late in the Winter Classic.

After scoring a tie-breaking goal earlier in the third period off Chicago defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson's skate, the St. Louis Blues star winger put the puck straight into the back of the net with a pinpoint wrist shot past Corey Crawford.

The two goals, Tarasenko's 17th and 18th of the season, were scored 1:57 apart. They also gave the Blues a 3-1 lead that would not be relinquished in the remaining minutes.

Tarasenko finished with a game-high nine shots, and one hit post.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Marc-Edouard Vlasic will miss at least the next two games after taking a puck to his face on Dec. 30.

The San Jose Sharks defenseman was placed on injured reserve, retroactive to Dec. 31, meaning he can't play for seven days from that time. That means Vlasic can't suit up for home games against Los Angeles on Tuesday and Minnesota on Thursday.

Here's how it happened:

Vlasic was still able to celebrate the New Year, at least.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

What's a ceremonial puck drop without a puck?

Brett and Bobby Hull found out the answer to that question first-hand Monday, when they emerged for the Winter Classic photo op without the vulcanized rubber disc.

Perhaps they figured someone from the league would supply one, or maybe they forgot to bring one out themselves, but either way it made for an amusing and awkward moment.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Hockey's Twitter master has done it again.

With rainy weather threatening to put a damper - or even postpone - the 2017 Winter Classic between the Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues, the Florida Panthers goalie indirectly reminisced over the time he was benched for an outdoor game as a member of the Vancouver Canucks.

Eddie Lack, of course, was given the start at the 2014 Heritage Classic in Vancouver, while Luongo was dealt to Florida three days after watching from the bench.

Oh, the memories.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Carter Hutton's customized goalie mask earned him special recognition from one of the biggest families in St. Louis Cardinals history.

Ahead of the 2017 Winter Classic at Busch Stadium - home of the Cardinals - Blues netminder Carter Hutton revealed he'd be donning a special mask that honors some of the Cardinals' greatest-ever players, including Hall of Famer Stan Musial:

Upon learning of Hutton's mask, the Musial family thanked the goalie by sending him a baseball signed by the legendary Cardinal himself:

Musial's family wasn't the only one to take notice of the special gear, as the Baseball Hall of Fame requested Hutton's mask for the institution after he's done using it, according to Frank Cusumano of KSDK Sports.

- With h/t to Cut4.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Toronto Maple Leafs star rookie Auston Matthews has been named the NHL's first star of the week, followed by Chris Kreider of the New York Rangers and Marc-Andre Fleury of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Matthews led all players with four goals and two assists for six points in three games, with his marquee performance coming during the Centennial Classic on New Year's Day in which he recorded two goals, including the overtime winner.

Related: Matthews says outdoor experience one of his 'best moments in hockey'

Matthews now leads all rookies in goals and points, and sits second only to Sidney Crosby in goals scored among all players.

Kreider also scored four goals - including his second career hat trick - and added an assist for five points in three games.

Fleury won three games for the Penguins, stopping 77 of the 82 shots against for a save percentage of .939. He'll be relied upon heavily with in the coming weeks with Matt Murray sidelined with an injury.

Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.