The Capitals are hoping for a “spark” in the upcoming Stadium Series experience

RALEIGH, NC — Playing outdoors has been on Garnet Hathaway’s wish list since joining the NHL in 2015.

And on Saturday, after an eight-year wait, the Washington Capitals veteran will finally be able to take off when he and his teammates attend the Carolina Hurricanes for the NHL’s annual Stadium Series game at Carter-Finley Stadium, home of the NC State Wolfpack.

“I feel really fortunate to be able to do this,” Hathaway said. “It will be different. I’ll get a lot of tips from guys on how to prepare and how it’s different from Capital One Arena.”

Hathaway, who played pond hockey as a boy on his family’s farm in Kennebunkport, Maine, has no shortage of teammates to turn to for advice. In fact, he’s one of only five full-time players on Washington’s roster to still appear in one, along with veteran wingers Conor Sheary and Sonny Milano, second-year defenseman Martin Fehervary and backup goalie Charlie Lindgren. (Goalie Darcy Kuemper was Minnesota’s backup when the Wild hosted Chicago in 2016.)

*Injured
**On holiday

The Caps are not only experienced outdoors; they are good too.

They are 3-0 all-time in outdoor games, having recorded Winter Classic wins over Pittsburgh in 2011 and Chicago in 2015, and a Stadium Series win over Toronto in 2018. A win on Saturday would see the New York Rangers (4-0-0) and Boston (4-1-0) for most wins.

Carolina, meanwhile, is making its first outdoor appearance, though 10 players from the Hurricanes’ 23-man roster performed at a previous NHL stop.

The huge crowd, the stadium lights, the clear night air – Hathaway and Co. look forward to everything. But neither can they get drawn into the hype; It’s also a crucial game for a Caps team who have lost three straight games for the first time this season after Thursday’s 6-3 loss to Florida and are now with the Panthers for the eighth and last place in The playoffs are tied in the East Conference with 25 games left and the New York Islanders, Detroit and Buffalo in wait.

Hathaway hopes the way out can help the Caps break out of the rut they’ve gotten themselves into.

“It’s going to be a different energy,” he said. “Right now, a spark wouldn’t hurt us. What’s certain is that we’ve lost three times in a row and we’re playing an outdoor game that’s going to be a completely different environment, one that we’re looking forward to and knowing as a veteran group will feed you into that energy.”

The opponent expects to get the Caps’ collective heart rate up as well.

Washington-Carolina has blossomed into one of hockey’s greatest rivalries since the first round of the 2019 playoffs, when the Hurricanes rebounded from a two-game deficit to stun the reigning Stanley Cup champions. In the three seasons since, the Caps are 5-3-2 against the Hurricanes, including two close games this season — a 3-2 shootout loss in Raleigh on Oct. 31 and a 2-3 regular loss in DC Tuesday .

“They’re very fast, they shoot a lot and hit the net hard,” said Nicklas Backstrom. “It’s hard to play against them. They are aggressive.”

The Caps’ biggest problem these days has been an offense that’s difficult to produce. An average of 4.00 goals per game was scored during an 11-2-2 December, but in the 18 games since the calendar switched to 2023, it has averaged just 2.56 goals per game. Washington is 7-10-1 in these games.

To make matters worse, top scorer Alex Ovechkin, who left the team on Wednesday to attend his father’s funeral in Russia, is absent. The Caps are 0-3-0 this season without their top scorer and captain, and he won’t be in Raleigh either.

“There is no other Alex Ovechkin,” said Peter Laviolette, who is coaching his fourth outdoor game. “Everyone has to get involved. Other guys have to step up. We have to produce. For me there is not one person who needs to stand out. As a team, we have to cover for him when he’s not in the line-up.”

Backstrom knows a thing or two about scoring points on outdoor ice. He is the only player on either roster to score a winner (Stadium Series 2018) and his three assists rank fourth all-time. Only Henrik Zetterberg (7), Jonathan Toews (5) and Marian Hossa (4) have more helpers.

A key to causing offense on Saturday, Backstrom said, will be making high-proof games and resisting the urge to get cute, especially when ice isn’t ideal. The weather report promises sun and 56 degrees on the day of the game. However, the faceoff is scheduled for 8pm if temperatures should drop into the low 40s.

“Anytime you play outdoors, you never know what the ice is going to be like,” Backstrom said, adding that the Annapolis, Md. surface is the best he’s skated on outdoors.

“So,” added the longtime assistant captain, “you have to keep it simple.”

Oshie agreed, but acknowledged that’s easier said than done, especially on the big stage.

“Sometimes it’s difficult when you’re in the bright light and you feel like you want to show off your game a little bit,” he said. “But when the ice conditions are questionable – like when it gets warm in the playoffs – you have to keep it a little easier if you commit to getting the two points and giving yourself a better chance.”

Fighting offense aside, like all outdoor games, Saturday’s game will be a spectacle – and Hathaway plans to take it all in.

The NHL is expecting 57,000 spectators at Carter-Finley Stadium, just one parking lot from the Hurricanes’ home stadium, PNC Arena.

The Caps are scheduled to practice there Friday at 6:00 p.m. to give players a chance to become familiar with the lights, boards and playing surface, as well as another chance to familiarize themselves with the Stadium Series-specific gear that they will wear to feel comfortable.

“It’s going to be a big question of what we might need to adjust or how we need to prepare,” said Hathaway, who has sought advice from teammates on a variety of topics, including underwear.

“There’s a lot of different things,” he said. “The climate and getting used to it (well) things like the kind of shirt you wear underneath.”

Hathaway is also looking forward to sharing the outdoor gaming experience with his family. After practice on Friday there is a skate for the families of the players and coaches and the Caps expect around 150 family members to attend.

Hathaway joked about his extensive guest list, which will include his wife Lindsay, 21-month-old son Luke, his mum and dad, his brother and sisters and a few others.

“It won’t fill the whole stadium, but…” he roared.

The stadium car park will open to fans at 2pm, giving fans of both teams ample opportunity to, um, get ready. Laviolette coached the Canes to the 2006 Stanley Cup, so is familiar with the traditional Carolina parking lot celebrations.

“It should be a really great atmosphere,” said Laviolette. “It’s kind of cool because you’re so close and you have that college football vibe. They open the doors at 2pm and the game isn’t until 8am. That’s just a whole boatload Time to have fun – and they do.”

The same goes for the players, especially beginners like Hathaway, who want to enjoy the moment.

“There’s only a few of them a year, right?” he said. “And you can’t set the schedule. You don’t know where you’re going to be or how long you’re going to play in the NHL. It’s going to be something special to see and experience with this team and against a team like the Canes.”

(Photo: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)