2014 Year in Review: September Edition

Winter Classic heading to D.C

Sep 23, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (C), Capitals goalie Braden Holtby (left), and Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom (19) pose wearing Winter Classic edition jersey during a press conference for the 2015 Winter Classic hockey game at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

On September 10, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman along with Washington Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and Braden Holtby announced that the 2015 Winter Classic would be held in Washington D.C. The game is scheduled to take place January 1, 2015 and features the Washington Capitals squaring off against the Chicago Blackhawks at Nationals Park. Capitals Vice Chairmen Mark Lerner spoke at the press conference and shared his excitement about the news, “We are honored to have been selected to host the NHL Winter Classic at Nationals Park, the Classic is one of North America’s premier sports events, and we look forward to sharing out ballpark and our city with NHL fans from around the world.” As of today (December 24), the Capitals sit fourth in the Metropolitan Division with a record of 17-11-6, good enough for 40 points. The Blackhawks on the other hand have been on a tear all season going 23-10-2 which gives them 48 points and enough for first place in the Central Division. Both teams have two more contests before their meeting on New Year’s Day, and for the Capitals they are going to have to figure out a way to defend against Patrick Kane, and Jonathan Toews because that pair along with the entire Blackhawks team has been running rampant on the NHL this season and look like an early favorite to capture another Stanley Cup.