Head coaches Bruce Boudreau of Washington and Dan Bylsma of Pittsburgh, along with a host of key players, including the Caps' Alex Ovechkin and the Pens' Sidney Crosby, are in the spotlight as the two clubs battle through their busy December schedules.

The Penguins and Capitals fight for first place in their respective Eastern Conference divisions. Following a home game versus Anaheim, the Caps head to Boston and Ottawa. Meanwhile, the Pens visit their in-state rivals in Philadelphia for a significant Atlantic Division showdown before hosting the New York Rangers and Phoenix Coyotes.

Preparations begin in Pittsburgh to set up the hockey rink at Heinz Field. The teams face each other on the ice in Washington.

The game is delayed by rain, but the teams finally take the ice under the lights at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh

Head coaches Peter Laviolette of the Flyers and John Tortorella of the Rangers, along with a host of key players, are in the spotlight as the two clubs battle through their busy December schedules.

Shorthanded due to injuries, the Flyers face defending Stanley Cup champions the Boston Bruins, while the Rangers hit the road for a series of away games.

The Flyers and Rangers square off at Madison Square Garden in a highly anticipated contest as their showdown in the Winter Classic looms. Preparations to transform the ballpark are under way.

Preparations go into high gear as workers apply the finishing touches needed to turn a baseball stadium into an outdoor hockey rink. The Rangers take on the Flyers in a compelling contest that goes down to the final tick of the clock.

Coaches Mike Babcock of the Red Wings and Randy Carlyle of the Maple Leafs, along with a host of key players, are in the spotlight as the two clubs battle through busy December schedules.

Toronto savours a win over the reigning NHL Champion Chicago Blackhawks as the competition between Maple Leafs goalies Jonathan Bernier and James Reimer heats up. Detroit heads to Tampa, where Red Wings legend Steve Yzerman is now general manager of the Lightning. Both teams are challenged by a busy mid-December schedule that features four games in six days.

Detroit heads to Toronto for the teams' only meeting prior to their Jan. 1 outdoor showdown.

Workers apply the finishing touches to transform a football stadium into an outdoor hockey rink; the Maple Leafs arrive in Detroit for their day on the ice against the Red Wings.