The NHL's 2015 edition of the annual outdoor game dubbed The Winter Classic and sponsored by Bridgestone is set to take place in our nation's capital on New Year's Day.
The game will pit the Washington Capitals and the Chicago Blackhawks against the "Sun Monster" and against one another, in a matchup of elemental forces and hockey clubs at Nationals Park, home of the Washington, D.C., baseball team.
There isn't much, if any, history between the two organizations, but they're a couple of strong teams - the Blackhawks (25-10-2) are in second in the Western Conference, first in the Central Division, and the Capitals (18-11-7) are tied for sixth in the Eastern Conference and currently in third in the Metropolitan Division.
The Blackhawks are the league's best team when it comes to puck possession at even strength and in close-game situations - they' outshot opponents 848 to 699 in just such situations.
The Capitals are 11th in the league at 52 percent.
Washington is 6-1-3 over its last 10 games, their most recent a loss at the hands of the white-hot New York Islanders.
They hired head coach Barry Trotz this past offseason, largely because they were enamored with his structured approach to the organization and to the game. The Capitals are, of course, paced by All-World winger, Alex Ovechkin, who has 17 goals. Nicklas Backstrom though, leads the team in points with 38.
The Capitals, long known as a skilled, offensive team without much of an edge, have tried to change that dynamic this season.
"Now I would say hard-nosed, honest, hard, just the word 'hard,'" Washington defenseman Karl Alzner said. "I think that's way better."
The Blackhawks are again one of the best overall groups in the league. They've won the Cup twice in the past five seasons and, as Capitals coach Trotz described them, they're "the gold standard" of the NHL.
All-Star forwards Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews and defenseman Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook lead a roster that has as much or more depth than any team in the league.
