Washington Capitals

Sabres Capitals Hocke_Lanc(1).jpg

Washington Capitals defenseman Matt Niskanen (2) skates during a break in the action in the second period of a preseason NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2014, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Hurricanes Capitals H_Lanc.jpg

Washington Capitals right wing Alex Ovechkin (8), from Russia, has his shot deflected by Carolina Hurricanes defenseman John-Michael Liles (26) in the first period of a preseason NHL hockey game, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2014, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

WINTERCLASSIC_015.JPG

Washington Capitals Senior Vice President and General Manager Brian MacLellan, right, speaks with Washington Capitals Captain Alex Ovechkin, center, Center Nicklas Backstrom, left, and Goaltender Braden Holtby, second from right, speak together following a press conference announcing the 2015 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic held at Nationals Park, Washington, D.C., Tuesday, September 23, 2014. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

WINTERCLASSIC_018.JPG

Washington Capitals Captain Alex Ovechkin, left, Center Nicklas Backstrom, right, wear their specially designed jerseys for the 2015 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic held at Nationals Park as they speak to members of the media following a press conference, Washington, D.C., Tuesday, September 23, 2014. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

WINTERCLASSIC_017.JPG

Washington Capitals Chairman & Owner Ted Leonsis speaks to reporters following a press conference announcing the 2015 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic held at Nationals Park, Washington, D.C., Tuesday, September 23, 2014. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

WINTERCLASSIC_021.JPG

Washington Capitals Captain Alex Ovechkin, second from right, Center Nicklas Backstrom, right, and Goaltender Braden Holtby, third from left, pose for photographs in their specially designed jerseys for the 2015 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic held at Nationals Park, Washington, D.C., Tuesday, September 23, 2014. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

WINTERCLASSIC_020.JPG

Washington Capitals Captain Alex Ovechkin, second from right, Center Nicklas Backstrom, right, and Goaltender Braden Holtby, third from left, pose for photographs in their specially designed jerseys for the 2015 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic held at Nationals Park, Washington, D.C., Tuesday, September 23, 2014. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

WINTERCLASSIC_016.JPG

Washington Capitals Captain Alex Ovechkin, left, Center Nicklas Backstrom, right, and Goaltender Braden Holtby, second from left, show off their specially designed jerseys for the 2015 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic held at Nationals Park, Washington, D.C., Tuesday, September 23, 2014. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

WINTERCLASSIC_014.JPG

Left to right: Washington Capitals Senior Vice President and General Manager Brian MacLellan, Center Nicklas Backstrom, Monumental Sports & Entertainment President Dick Patrick, Washington Capitals Captain Alex Ovechkin, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, Goaltender Braden Holtby, and Washington Capitals Chairman & Owner Ted Leonsis pose for photographs for the 2015 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic held at Nationals Park, Washington, D.C., Tuesday, September 23, 2014. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

WINTERCLASSIC_012.JPG

Washington Capitals Chairman & Owner Ted Leonsis speaks during a press conference announcing the 2015 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic held at Nationals Park, Washington, D.C., Tuesday, September 23, 2014. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

WINTERCLASSIC_013.JPG

Washington Capitals Captain Alex Ovechkin, right, Center Nicklas Backstrom, left, and Goaltender Braden Holtby, center, arrive wearing specially designed jerseys for the 2015 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic held at Nationals Park, Washington, D.C., Tuesday, September 23, 2014. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

Sabres Capitals Hocke_Lanc.jpg

Washington Capitals left wing Andre Burakovsky (65), from Austria, celebrates after his goal in the first period of a preseason NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2014, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

22457795e8ac2a24600f6a706700b71b.jpg

Washington Capitals head coach Barry Trotz looks on during NHL hockey training camp, Friday, Sept. 19, 2014, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

AP153633455135.jpg

Washington Capitals right wing Alex Ovechkin (8), from Russia, skates on the ice during a pause in the action in the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Sunday, April 13, 2014, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

AP624991010345(1).jpg

Washington Capitals right wing Alex Ovechkin (8) takes a shot past Chicago Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews (19) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

AP110105038365.jpg

Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin, right, and Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby (87) skate during the second period of the NHL Winter Classic outdoor hockey game against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh Saturday, Jan. 1, 2011. The Capitals won 3-1. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

AP110101027297.jpg

Heinz Field in Pittsburgh plays host to the NHL Winter Classic outdoor hockey game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Jan. 1, 2011. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

AP99051201887.jpg

**FILE** Ted Leonsis, second from right, Jon Ledecky, right, and Dick Patrick, left, hold up Washington Capitals jerseys at a news conference Wednesday, May 12, 1999, at the MCI Center in Washington. Wednesday, May 12, 1999, at the MCI Center in Washington Leonsis heads an investment group, including Patrick and Ledecky, which purchased the Washington Capitals NHL team from Abe Pollin, second from left, (AP Photo/Nick Wass)