The NHL will kick off 2014 with a bang as the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Detroit Red Wings collide in the returning Winter Classic on Wednesday at the Michigan Stadium, popularly known as The Big House.

TV Schedule and Live Stream

The 2014 Winter Classic showdown between the Maple Leafs and the Red Wings will start at 1 p.m EST and will be broadcasted on NBC. Online steam will also be available on the NBC Sports Network.

The Maple Leafs-Red Wings showdown will be the first Winter Classic match after the yearly tradition was not staged last season for the first time since 2008 due to the lockout, and this year's edition is expected to be a historic affair.

According to an Associated Press report published by ESPN, more than 105,500 tickets have been sold for Wednesday's game and tickets are still available on NHL.com and Stabhub.

If the Big House is packed by more than 105,500 spectators, it will be almost twice the average of 53,045 spectators who braved the cold weather to watch the first five Winter Classics. The same stadium hosted the Michigan vs Michigan State showdown that set the hockey attendance record of 104,173 spectators in 2010.

Playing in a different environment could work both ways for both teams, who struggled in their previous games with each team tallying a measly 3-5-2 record in their last 10 games.

But despite the current struggles of both teams, Red Wings coach Mike Babcock and Maple Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf said that Wednesday's showdown should not be missed.

"If you haven't been to a football Saturday here, then you should put it on your bucket list," Babcock said. "It's the best sporting event. I've been to the Olympic Games, the World Series, the Stanley Cup. This is probably the best sporting event I've ever been to, bar none."

"When there are 110,000 people, it's going to be an experience I'll never forget," Phaneuf said.

Phil Kessel, who has 20 goals and 17 assists this season, is currently in a slump but is expected to lead the Maple Leafs. Defenseman Cody Franson is also expected to make an impact once again after tallying one goal and four assists in their last six games.

On the other side, the Red Wings should get a much-needed boost from Jimmy Howard, who recently returned from a sprained MCL. Darren Helm also made his comeback after missing most of their games in December, recording an assist in their 4-6 loss to the Nashville Predators on Monday.