After Epix deftly handled death of Chicago Blackhawks assistant equipment manager Clint Reif in Episode 2, we knew we’d be in for a cheerier tone for Episode 3.
Traditionally, the third installment of the Winter Classic hype-up documentary follows its subjects as they go home for the Christmas break, and the variety of cultures and characters makes for some great family moments.
Here are 12 things we learned from Episode 3 of Road to the Winter Classic, a mini series that culminates next Tuesday evening with footage from Thursday’s big game at Nationals Park.
Stream Episode 3 of Road To the Winter Classic on the SN Now app. MORE: Winter Classic Live
1. Captain Serious is great when it’s time to be serious.
Smartly, the program picks up where it left off: the Blackhawks reeling from Reif’s death. After the club’s 4-0 shutout of the Toronto Maple Leafs, a choked-up Jonathan Toews dedicates the win to Clint.
“He was special for sure,” Toews says.
2. Braden Holtby is on fire.
Maybe the cameras should follow him more often. The Washington Capitals’ 25-year-old goaltender posted two shutouts and a .929 save percentage in the month of December.
Even better? He’s earned his team at least a point in 11 of his last 12 starts. Nine of them were on the road. Dude is dialed in. Must be the crossword puzzles.
3. Barry Trotz is pretty sweet when he’s around his family.
So what if he’s all F-bombs in the dressing room? This guy is a softie at home. Trotz on his wife, Kim: “She was my first crush.”
4. Troy Brouwer’s cookie-decorating game is on point:
5. We should call him “Joel QuenneVail.”
The Blackhawks’ bench boss bought a place to ski with family during holidays in Vail. He loves the sport but sticks to the “blue cruisers,” he says.
Great stuff when his daughter says Dad always needs to pop an Advil after skiing because he’s sore.
6. The Vail segment does much to soften the Coach Q image.
One could make the case that no one is more profane during the game than Quenneville, who’s all f-bombs and blood rushing to the head. He’s scary, to a point.
After one tirade on an official during a 5-1 stinker of a loss to the Jets, the ref asks calmly, “Are you done swearing at me now?”
Coach Q: “Yes, I’m done.”
7. Trotz gives his players opinions on Eastern Conference opponents.
In prepping for a “trap game” against the Senators, Trotz describes Ottawa as an “under-rated skill team. And after the Caps lose to the Rangers 4-2, he vows to pass New York in the standings. Sure enough, they already have (though the Blueshirts have two games in hand).
8. Niklas Hjalmarsson will eat eight types of herring in one sitting.
As the Blackhawks defenceman breaks down the elements of a traditional Swedish holiday buffet, we learn that Sweden’s meatballs are smaller than the nuggets consumed in the States and that the versatile forage fish are his favourite dish.
9. The healthy scratch is the ultimate slight.
No matter how gently Coach Trotz delivers the bad news to veteran Jason Chimera that he’ll be sitting out the game versus the Pittsburgh Penguins, it’s palpable how much it stings to sit.
“Get the camera out of my face,” Chimera says.
10. The NHL should have scheduled another Caps-Hawks game as part of the show.
In past Road to the Winter Classic docs, we’ve seen the two featured teams face-off against each other in the weeks leading up to the New Year’s Day extravaganza.
Viewers would have been well-served if these two red-hot teams’ paths collided in Episode 3 as a prelude, building some bad blood before Jan. 1. Instead, they played each other way back on Nov. 7 (Washington won 3-2), before the cameras rolled.
11. Alex Ovechkin places a phone call before every game.
Amidst a Russian feast of cow tongue and Tatyana Ovechkin’s borscht, we learn that Ovie owns a Donald Duck T-shirt and that he calls home before he heads out to every game, just to hear his family’s voice.
12. Capitals and Penguins fans can agree on one thing.
In a great moment in Trotz’s office, Washington owner Ted Leonsis recalls his favourite moment from the 2011 Winter Classic, featuring his Capitals and the Penguins.
As animosity was building between the fans of the two teams, they directed their energy at a common enemy. And a “Flyers suck!” chant arose from Heinz Field.
Leonsis loved it.