Capitals trying to minimize distractions that come with hosting Winter Classic

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Every NHL team wants to play host to an outdoor game, and there’s plenty of reason why between the added publicity, the experience for the players and staff and, most importantly, the sound of cash registers ringing non-stop throughout the venue. (Ted Leonsis has been smiling all week.)

But there’s a cost to playing host, and it comes with the result on the ice.

In the 13 NHL outdoor games dating back to the 2003 Heritage Classic, the only home teams to win are the Boston Bruins (2010 Winter Classic), Calgary Flames (2011 Heritage Classic) and 2014 Chicago Blackhawks (2014 Stadium Series). Visiting sides hold a 10-2-1 overall record.

When you’re playing host to an outdoor game, you’re also playing host to family and friends. You’re worrying about tickets, people staying at your house, making sure they’re being taken care of during that time. It’s a lot for a player to deal about, and while team’s do their best to help, it can all serve as a distraction from the task at hand: winning two points.

This is what the Washington Capitals have been dealing with ahead of Thursday's game at Nationals Park.

“There’s a fine line between enjoying the whole experience and doing your duties as a host,” said Matt Niskanen, who was a visitor in last season’s Stadium Series game in Chicago as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins. “So when it comes time for game time, hopefully when it’s time to get down to business and everyone can focus on playing a hockey game.”

For the Capitals, they were able to approach the 2011 Winter Classic in Pittsburgh like a business trip: get in, grab two points and get out. It worked, and they left Heinz Field 3-1 victors.

“The one in Pittsburgh felt just like a normal road game with the exception of the atmosphere and the actual physical surroundings,” said Brooks Laich. “Stay in a hotel, you take your skate on the ice the day before, but other than that, your routine is pretty much the same as the road team.

“For the home team there’s maybe more distractions with the family, visitors staying at the house, maybe you don’t get your proper rest or nutritition, just being pulled in different directions outside the rink. For us, that’s got to be the focus; that tonight you need to get your rest and tomorrow when you come to the rink that it’s gametime.”

Capitals players said that they’re going to get all of the family and friends stuff out of the way on New Years Eve. Once midnight strikes and 2015 arrives, their attention turns to the beating the Blackhawks.

“[T]o play in one of these is great,” said Laich, “but the most enjoyable thing is to win it. When you win the hockey game it really makes the experience that much better. That’s how we felt in Pittsburgh and we want that feeling tomorrow."

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Sean Leahy is the associate editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Sean_Leahy

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