Whether it is at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., or high atop the Chicago skyline, the first episode of "EPIX Presents Road to the NHL Winter Classic" provides an inside look at the personalities of the Washington Capitals and Chicago Blackhawks and begins to examine the paths of the two franchises toward the NHL's signature regular-season event.

Some of the highlights of the first episode in the four-part series, which begins Tuesday night on EPIX, include spending a day with new Capitals coach Barry Trotz and his family at the zoo. There's also a glance at what life at home is like for Blackhawks veteran Brad Richards in comparison to that of Washington rookies Tom Wilson and Michael Latta.

The 2015 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic Ice Plant Presented by York will arrive at Nationals Park on Monday to begin the ice-making process for the 2015 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic.

The 53-foot trailer, the world's largest mobile refrigeration unit, houses the state-of-the-art ice-making and ice-monitoring equipment used to create the sheet of ice which will be used by the Chicago Blackhawks and the Washington Capitals on Jan. 1 (1 p.m. ET; NBC, CBC, TVA). It will arrive at the home of Major League Baseball's Washington Nationals at 9:30 a.m. ET.

The truck departed Toronto on Dec. 10 to make the 480-mile journey to Washington, DC.

NEW YORK -- Premium entertainment network EPIX and the National Hockey League announced today that film director, author, and avid hockey fan Kevin Smith (Tusk, Clerks) will host weekly recaps of the EPIX Original Series EPIX Presents Road To The NHL Winter Classic™ and EPIX Presents Road To The NHL Stadium Series™, produced by 52-time Emmy® Award winner Ross Greenburg. The series is narrated by Bill Camp (12 Years a Slave, Lincoln).

Kevin Smith's Penalty Box, two-minute episodes that capture Smith's distinctive perspective on each week's highlights, will run on air and across EPIX and NHL digital platforms the Wednesday following the Tuesday night premiere. Encores of Kevin Smith's Penalty Box will air leading into the premiere of the following week's episode.

EPIX Presents Road To The NHL Winter Classic™ will make its U.S. Television Premiere on EPIX December 16 at 10pm ET/PT, 9CT, with four weekly episodes following the Chicago Blackhawks and Washington Capitals as they prepare to compete in the 2015 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic®. EPIX Presents Road To The NHL Stadium Series™ will make its U.S. Television Premiere on EPIX February 3, 2015 at 10pm ET/PT, 9CT, with four weekly episodes focused on the Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks on the road to the 2015 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series™.

ARLINGTON, Va. -- A usual scene unfolded prior to the Washington Capitals practice Monday morning when goaltending coach Mitch Korn huddled together Braden Holtby and Justin Peters, preparing them for a 30-minute workout.

As defensemen Jack Hillen and Nate Schmidt made D-to-D passes while the goaltenders cradled medicine balls and cut side-to-side, a cameraman kneeled behind at each point, filming the entire drill and turning an ordinary occurrence into a potential television segment.

That is the Capitals lives for the next several weeks as a 15-person crew from EPIX has arrived to chronicle their preparation for the 2015 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic against the Chicago Blackhawks on Jan. 1.

"They're doing a pretty good job of being sneaky," forward Eric Fehr said. "They've caught us a few times where we don't even know they're there and they've got you mic'd."

WASHINGTON -- The unveiling of the refurbished Watkins Rush Rink brightened a dreary Friday morning in southeast Washington, D.C.

Twelve Watkins Elementary School students slipped on the deep red sweaters that the Washington Capitals will wear against the Chicago Blackhawks during the 2015 NHL Bridgestone Winter Classic on Jan. 1 over their raincoats.

With navy blue toques on their heads, the kids, who sat through a 15-minute dedication presentation, grabbed multicolored sticks and played an impromptu street hockey game officiated by Hockey Hall of Fame defenseman Rod Langway.

The renovated rink, located at the Watkins Elementary School and Recreation Center, is less than two miles from where the Winter Classic will be played at Nationals Park.

The event Friday was part of the 2015 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic powered by Constellation Legacy Initiative, in which the League works in conjunction with the team hosting an NHL event to support community organizations.

NEW YORK -- With just under four weeks until the 2015 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic®, the countdown to the much-anticipated outdoor match-up between the Chicago Blackhawks® and Washington Capitals® on New Year's Day has begun.

Hockey's biggest stars -- including Alex Ovechkin, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane -- will take center stage as the Blackhawks and Capitals meet in Washington, D.C. at Nationals Park, home of the Washington Nationals. The event will be broadcast live nationally on NBC in the United States and on CBC and TVA in Canada on 1 p.m. ET on Jan. 1.

The National Hockey League and its Member Clubs are committed to creating a safe and comfortable environment and enjoyable entertainment experience. NHL fans have a right to expect an environment in which they will be treated in a consistent, professional and courteous manner by all Venue, Team and League personnel. The Players and Officials have the same rights. Accordingly, fans are responsible for their own conduct.

The following items are expressly prohibited inside ticketed areas:

- Metal, plastic or glass containers of any kind (except for clear, factory-sealed plastic water bottles no larger than 1 liter, juice boxes, insulin containers and baby food). Only one bottle of water per person will be permitted
- Food items not in adherence to the following policy: All food items must be contained in single serving bags within a soft-sided container or cooler that does not exceed 16”x16”x8”
- Hard coolers or ice chests
- Backpacks and bags that exceed 16”x16”x8”
- Umbrellas
- Brooms, poles and staffs of any kind
- Weapons, fireworks and other illegal substances
- Camera lenses in excess of eight inches, tripods and monopods
- Animals (except service animals)
- Beach balls and other inflatable items
- Laser pens and laser pointers
- Alcohol not purchased at Nationals Park
- Noisemakers not provided by the NHL
- Skateboards
- Strollers
- Any other item deemed dangerous or inappropriate or otherwise violating the Guest Conduct Policy

Violators of any District of Columbia laws will be refused admission, asked to leave or ejected from the ticketed areas.

NEW YORK – EPIX Presents Road To The NHL Winter Classic™ and EPIX Presents Road To The NHL Stadium Series™, a two-part original series from premium TV network EPIX and the National Hockey League, will bring U.S. viewers onto the ice and behind-the-scenes with the Chicago Blackhawks and Washington Capitals as they prepare to compete in the 2015 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic®, and the Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks on their road to the 2015 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series™.

EPIX Presents Road To The NHL Winter Classic will make its U.S. Television Premiere on EPIX December 16 at 10pm ET/PT, 9CT with four weekly episodes following the Blackhawks and the Capitals through regular season games as they get ready to face off in the 2015 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® outdoor game at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. on New Year's Day, January 1.