Blackhawks vs. Capitals: Vital Viewing Information for Winter Classic 2015

When the Chicago Blackhawks travel to Washington to play the Capitals at Nationals Park for the 2015 NHL Winter Classic, hockey fans from all around North America will be enthralled by the annual outdoor spectacle.

With Chicago in control of the Central Division in the Western Conference and the Capitals fighting to stay toward the top of the Metropolitan Division on the Eastern Conference side, Thursday’s battle will be intense.

Here is all the vital viewing information for the 2015 Winter Classic and the biggest potential difference-maker to watch.

Where: Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.

When: Thursday, January 1

Start Time: 1 p.m. ET

Watch: NBC

Live Stream: NBC Sports Live Extra

Biggest Potential Difference-Maker: Alexander Ovechkin

Patrick McDermott/Getty Images

There will be a plethora of stars on both teams who should shine on the national stage, but the biggest potential difference-maker on Thursday will be Washington Capitals winger Alexander Ovechkin.

In 36 games this season, Ovechkin has scored 17 goals and 13 assists for 30 points and just 30 penalty minutes. Add in 11 power-play points, and Ovechkin has been a force in the offensive zone for Washington.

One area of growth that will make a major difference Thursday will be his responsibility in the defensive zone. With the arrival of head coach Barry Trotz, Ovechkin went from minus-35 in his plus/minus rating last season to plus-seven thus far in 2014.

While Ovechkin has continued to improve defensively on the ice, some of his biggest changes have come away from the rink, as he told Erik Brady of USA Today:

"

Of course, you feel 30 years old. You're not young anymore. You have that kind of experience where you start thinking about what is going to be in the future. When I just came to the league, I didn't realize — Sergei Fedorov and Viktor Kozlov, they said, 'Just remember, when you hit 30 you are going to feel all your old bruises; you need to get more sleep, go to bed early.'

And I'm like, 'No way that is happening.' And right now, you start to realize you can't do those things you could do when you were 21 or 22. … You can't do what you did previous years if you want to get success. If you want to stay in the same position where you are, you have to change your style of life.

"

Just because Ovechkin is taking the game more serious doesn’t mean he still hasn’t found time to enjoy himself, as Hemal Jhaveri of the USA Today showcased on Twitter:

"

You know who's having a great time at the #WinterClassic? Alex Ovechkin. http://t.co/pNEv8TA1pc pic.twitter.com/Eyb3gDKUm7

— Hemal Jhaveri (@hemjhaveri) December 31, 2014"

Most fans are expecting the Blackhawks to dominate Washington due to the elite defensive numbers Chicago has put up this season. Not only is the team’s defensive unit ranked No. 1 in the NHL, allowing only 2.1 goals against per game, but the Blackhawks are also first on the penalty kill with a 90.5 percent kill rate.

The biggest difference in Thursday’s meeting—besides being played outdoors—is the unfamiliarity between the two teams. Washington doesn’t play Chicago frequently, and the defenders for the Blackhawks don’t see a player with the skill set of Ovechkin often.

If Ovechkin brings his full effort on the national stage, he could easily steal the show.

*Stats via NHL.com.