Blues have all the fun in convincing victory over the Blackhawks in the Winter Classic

CHICAGO (AP) — St. Louis coach Jim Montgomery walked around before Tuesday night's Winter Classic. He looked at the growing crowd soaking in the festive atmosphere. He thought about all the famous ballplayers who played at Wrigley Field.

“And here we are getting to play an NHL hockey game,” Montgomery said. “It's just really cool.”

The Winter Classic returned to Wrigley on the final day of 2024, and the Chicago Blackhawks threw quite a party. Fireworks streaked through the night sky at the home of baseball's Chicago Cubs. The Smashing Pumpkins and Chance the Rapper performed, and actors Bill Murray and Jon Hamm got a big ovation when they were shown on a videoboard during the third period.

It was a very Chicago party, and St. Louis had all the fun. The Blues rolled to a 6-2 victory over the Blackhawks in front of a crowd of 40,933, improving to 3-0 in the Winter Classic.

“This was an amazing experience for the fans and just for us, too," St. Louis captain Brayden Schenn said. “Having family and friends here to experience something like that at Wrigley Field, an amazing thing, and then winning on top of it.”

Just a couple weeks after he was acquired by St. Louis in a trade with Anaheim, Cam Fowler celebrated his 1,000th NHL game with two goals. The 33-year-old defenseman became the first player in NHL history to skate outdoors for his 1,000th game.

The night — the confluence of events that put Fowler in that moment after spending his entire career with the Ducks — was “pretty surreal,” he said.

“Going through a lot of emotions the last few weeks getting adjusted to a new team,” he said. “But couldn't have asked for anything more for this experience, getting to share it with my family. ... It was an awesome night for all of us.”

Not so much for the lowly Blackhawks. It was a much different scene in the home clubhouse, where Chicago was searching for answers after its fifth consecutive loss.

Backed by the majority of a raucous crowd, the Blackhawks got off to a slow start and the Blues pulled away with three goals in the second period. There were loud chants of “Let's go Blues!” in the final seconds of the game.

“You know, those tickets aren’t cheap for them to come and support us,” Chicago forward Connor Bedard said. “We, obviously, in our room are disappointed with ourselves. But I feel bad for our fan base coming out to this and we kind of lay an egg.”

The day began with Bedard and the Blackhawks — carrying their sticks and skates and dressed in custom “Team Chicago” gear — using one of the city's famed elevated trains to travel to Wrigley.

The team's pregame apparel was designed to highlight the connection between the franchise and the city. The clothes had patches paying tribute to Chicago’s first responders, and each player picked a charitable or community-based organization for their hat.

“It’s a neat thing to bring our community together, right?” captain Nick Foligno said. “And one of the big things we talked about was our first responders, too, and what they mean to our community and what they do for us. And we wanted to kind of highlight that and also highlight what means a lot to us.”

St. Louis dressed in gray sweatshirts and hats for its bus trip to the ballpark. The hats had 99 on the front and the shirts had a round emblem with 99 and GRETZKY'S BASEMENT — a nod to the hockey school connected to Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky.

“We just thought it would be a great opportunity to honor Wayne and everything he’s done for the game," Blues defenseman Justin Faulk said. "He’s obviously an integral part in St. Louis, too. He’s done a lot for the community there and still does, and he’s great to everyone in the organization and the guys and we thought there’s no better way to show our appreciation than to do this today for him.”

The Blues occupied the visitor's clubhouse at Wrigley, which meant they had to navigate a long stairway on their way to and from the ice. Like they usually do when they play outdoors, they made the most of the situation.

“Just had to take your time,” goaltender Jordan Binnington said with a grin. “It kind of helped me focus for the game. Just one step at a time. We talk about that a lot and I was really taking it one step at a time because I did not want to go down.”

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Fans watch pregame entertainment in the rain before the NHL Winter Classic outdoor hockey game between the Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues at Wrigley Field, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

St. Louis Blues center Dylan Holloway (81) warms up before the NHL Winter Classic outdoor hockey game featuring the Chicago Blackhawks and Blues at Wrigley Field, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

The Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues warm up before the NHL Winter Classic outdoor hockey game at Wrigley Field, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Fireworks explode during the Star-Spangled Banner before the NHL Winter Classic outdoor hockey game featuring the Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues at Wrigley Field, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

A St. Louis Blues fan watches the NHL Winter Classic outdoor hockey game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Blues at Wrigley Field, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

The Smashing Pumpkins perform before the NHL Winter Classic outdoor hockey game featuring the Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues at Wrigley Field, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Blackhawks national anthem singer Jim Cornelison sings the Star-Spangled banner before the NHL Winter Classic outdoor hockey game featuring the Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues at Wrigley Field, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Blackhawks left wing Nick Foligno (17) takes the ice for the NHL Winter Classic outdoor hockey game featuring the Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues at Wrigley Field, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

The zamboni clears the ice before the NHL Winter Classic outdoor hockey game featuring the Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues at Wrigley Field, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

The Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues face off at center ice during the NHL Winter Classic outdoor hockey game at Wrigley Field, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Fans sit underneath the scoreboard before NHL Winter Classic outdoor hockey game featuring the Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues at Wrigley Field, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard reacts as the St. Louis Blues score during the second period of the NHL Winter Classic outdoor hockey game at Wrigley Field, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Blackhawks fans boo St. Louis Blues center Brayden Schenn (10) as Schenn leaves the ice after getting a five-minute major for fighting with Blackhawks left wing Nick Foligno (not shown) during the second period of the NHL Winter Classic outdoor hockey game at Wrigley Field, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

St. Louis Blues center Brayden Schenn leaves the ice after getting a five-minute major for fighting with Chicago Blackhawks left wing Nick Foligno during the second period of the NHL Winter Classic outdoor hockey game at Wrigley Field, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Officials break up a fight between the St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks during the second period of the NHL Winter Classic outdoor hockey game at Wrigley Field, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

St. Louis Blues fans celebrate after the team's win over the Chicago Blackhawks in the NHL Winter Classic outdoor hockey game at Wrigley Field, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

St. Louis Blues center Brayden Schenn, left, celebrates with fans after his team's win over the Chicago Blackhawks in the NHL Winter Classic outdoor hockey game at Wrigley Field, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Fans watch the third period of the NHL Winter Classic outdoor hockey game featuring the Chicago Blackhawks and the St. Louis Blues from the bleachers at Wrigley Field, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Fans celebrate after a goal by the Chicago Blackhawks against the St. Louis Blues during the third period of the NHL Winter Classic outdoor hockey game at Wrigley Field, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Fans hang outside of Murphy's Bleachers before the NHL Winter Classic outdoor hockey game between the Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues at Wrigley Field, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Fans hang outside of Wrigley Field before the NHL Winter Classic outdoor hockey game between the Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Blackhawks Danny Wirtz arrives for the the NHL Winter Classic outdoor hockey game between the Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues at Wrigley Field, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Louis Crevier arrives for the NHL Winter Classic outdoor hockey game featuring the Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues at Wrigley Field, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Blackhawks left wing Lukas Reichel, left, and left wing Patrick Maroon arrive with the team for the NHL Winter Classic outdoor hockey game featuring the Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues at Wrigley Field, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

The Chicago Blackhawks arrive for the NHL Winter Classic outdoor hockey game between the Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues at Wrigley Field, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Blackhawks center Frank Nazar arrives for the NHL Winter Classic outdoor hockey game featuring the Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues at Wrigley Field, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Blackhawks left wing Lukas Reichel, left, and left wing Patrick Maroon arrive with the team for the NHL Winter Classic outdoor hockey game featuring the Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues at Wrigley Field, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. forces in the Caribbean Sea have seized another sanctioned oil tanker that the Trump administration says has ties to Venezuela, part of a broader U.S. effort to take control of the South American country’s oil.

The U.S. Coast Guard boarded the tanker, named Veronica, early Thursday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem wrote on social media. The ship had previously passed through Venezuelan waters and was operating in defiance of President Donald Trump’s "established quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean,” she said.

U.S. Southern Command said Marines and sailors launched from the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford to take part in the operation alongside a Coast Guard tactical team, which Noem said conducted the boarding as in previous raids. The military said the ship was seized “without incident.”

Several U.S. government social media accounts posted brief videos that appeared to show various parts of the ship’s capture. Black-and-white footage showed at least four helicopters approaching the ship before hovering over the deck while armed troops dropped down by rope. At least nine people could be seen on the deck of the ship.

The Veronica is the sixth sanctioned tanker seized by U.S. forces as part of the effort by Trump’s administration to control the production, refining and global distribution of Venezuela’s oil products and the fourth since the U.S. ouster of Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro in a surprise nighttime raid almost two weeks ago.

The Veronica last transmitted its location on Jan. 3 as being at anchor off the coast of Aruba, just north of Venezuela’s main oil terminal. According to the data it transmitted at the time, the ship was partially filled with crude.

Days later, the Veronica became one of at least 16 tankers that left the Venezuelan coast in contravention of the quarantine that U.S. forces have set up to block sanctioned ships, according to Samir Madani, the co-founder of TankerTrackers.com. He said his organization used satellite imagery and surface-level photos to document the ship movements.

The ship is currently listed as flying the flag of Guyana and is considered part of the shadow fleet that moves cargoes of oil in violation of U.S. sanctions.

According to its registration data, the ship also has been known as the Gallileo, owned and managed by a company in Russia. In addition, a tanker with the same registration number previously sailed under the name Pegas and was sanctioned by the Treasury Department for being associated with a Russian company moving cargoes of illicit oil.

As with prior posts about such raids, Noem and the military framed the seizure as part of an effort to enforce the law. Noem argued that the multiple captures show that “there is no outrunning or escaping American justice.”

Speaking to reporters at the White House later Thursday, Noem declined to say how many sanctioned oil tankers the U.S. is tracking or whether the government is keeping tabs on freighters beyond the Caribbean Sea.

“I can’t speak to the specifics of the operation, although we are watching the entire shadow fleet and how they’re moving,” she told reporters.

But other officials in Trump's Republican administration have made clear they see the actions as a way to generate cash as they seek to rebuild Venezuela’s battered oil industry and restore its economy.

Trump met with executives from oil companies last week to discuss his goal of investing $100 billion in Venezuela to repair and upgrade its oil production and distribution. His administration has said it expects to sell at least 30 million to 50 million barrels of sanctioned Venezuelan oil.

Associated Press writer Ben Finley contributed to this report.

This story has been corrected to show the Veronica is the fourth, not the third, tanker seized by U.S. forces since Maduro’s capture and the ship also has been known as the Gallileo, not the Galileo.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks with reporters at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks with reporters at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks with reporters at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks with reporters at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks with reporters at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks during a press conference, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks at a news conference at Harry Reid International Airport, Nov. 22, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill, File)