The Washington Capitals are just three days away from taking the ice at Heinz Field for the Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic. To prepare for the elements (despite the warm and sunny conditions Wednesday), the Caps practiced outdoors at the Chevy Chase Club.
Head coach Bruce Boudreau held a normal practice filled with drills that lasted for about an hour. Saturday's forecast in Pittsburgh calls for overcast skies and a chance of rain, but the players took the opportunity to get used to the sun and wind.
Some Caps experimented with eye black. Via Washington Post, Matt Hendricks and John Carlson wore thick triangles under their eyes, while Alex Ovechkin gave himself a moustache by smearing eye black across his upper lip.
Many of the previously-injured Capitals took part in practice, which will make formulating a lineup a difficult task for Boudreau. All eight defensemen were on the ice, while Marcus Johansson and Mathieu Perreault, who missed Tuesday's game against the Montreal Canadiens, are ready to play.
Ovechkin-Backstrom-Knuble
Laich-Perreault-Semin
Chimera-Johansson-Fehr
Hendricks-Steckel-Beagle-KingHannan-Green
Alzner-Carlson
Erskine-Schultz
Poti-Sloan
The Capitals will hold a normal practice at Ketter Capitals Iceplex Thursday before flying to Pittsburgh. They will practice outside again Friday at Heinz Field.
(Thanks to Washington Post's AJ Chavar for the video).