The Capitals and Penguins are already scheduled to face each other on New Year’s Day in the NHL’s Winter Classic, but now fans will be able to watch four episodes of buildup and aftermath on HBO. The series, “24/7 PENGUINS/CAPITALS: ROAD TO THE WINTER CLASSIC,” will begin shooting the first week of December and has the same producer as HBO’s popular NFL series “Hard Knocks.”

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Will Capitals superstar Alexander Ovechkin get in trouble for cursing more than Jets coach Rex Ryan? “Well, if I’m gonna say some bad words it’s gonna be Russian words,” said Ovechkin. “Probably you guys don’t understand it. I don’t know. We’ll see.” Ovechkin also said he doesn’t usually watch TV, but plans to make time for 24/7:

I’m gonna watch this show. This is gonna be probably my favorite show. It’s pretty cool experience, sick. For the team, for the guys, for the organization, it’s a big step forward. We’re gonna be on TV again, so it’s good.”

The show will debut on December 15, with the final episode airing on January 5. Capitals owner Ted Leonsis thinks his club will make for great television:

When you look at these real life dramas, we’re the flawed character. And you need foils, you need three acts in the drama, and we haven’t won a Stanley Cup. And we have great players and we have a great franchise and a great fan base and I’m proud to expose all of that