All articles tagged with #capitals
Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin will meet for their 100th and 101st head-to-head in a weekend home-and-home, a marquee chapter in hockey’s greatest rivalry, with Crosby hoping to enjoy the competition as Pittsburgh pursues playoff position and home ice while Ovechkin contemplates the end of his career.
Washington Capitals rookie Cole Hutson scored an empty-netter vs. Toronto, but his celebration turned to embarrassment when he realized a two-on-one pass could have set Ilya Protas up for his first NHL goal; Protas still earned his first NHL point in his debut, and Hutson later apologized as the Protas brothers celebrated.
Washington Capital s beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-0 in a game more notable for defensive lapses than the score, with Logan Thompson making 21 saves for his third shutout and rookie Ilya Protas recording his first NHL point in his debut. The win yields only a small lift in playoff odds (about 4.4% from 3%) and could push the Capitals’ first-round draft position from 13th to 16th overall, potentially affecting their draft status despite the win.
The Washington Capitals defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-0 on the road, led by Logan Thompson’s third shutout of the season. Dylan Strome opened the scoring, Ryan Leonard doubled the lead, Martin Fehervary added a third (with Justin Sourdif involved), and Cole Hutson closed it with an empty-netter. Anthony Stolarz left early due to injury, while Ilya Protas made his NHL debut as part of a strong Capitals lineup; questions linger about Alex Ovechkin’s future and whether Washington can sustain playoff contention.
Capitals roll out a 700-pound line for Ilya Protas's NHL debut, skating with his 6-foot-6 brother Aliaksei and Tom Wilson as Washington's second line against the Maple Leafs. The trio’s combined weight is about 700 pounds, a fact captain Alex Ovechkin called the heaviest line in the league. Teammates and Leafs staff offered playful notes on their size, while Capitals coach Spencer Carbery highlighted their size and smart positioning as a help for the rookie’s transition. Puck drop is 7:30 p.m. at Scotiabank Arena, with Carbery typically giving debutants the opening shift.
Capitals fans are paying premium for Sunday's home game against the Penguins amid retirement buzz surrounding Alex Ovechkin, with average TickPick tickets near $377 and nosebleeds above $220, though Ovechkin has not confirmed retirement and the era-ending speculation grows as his contract nears expiration and John Carlson’s trade stirs talk of the team’s arc.
Alex Ovechkin hasn’t decided on a 2026-27 return and will wait until summer to consult Capitals ownership and staff. At 40, health is a major factor as he weighs retirement after 21 NHL seasons, a possible re-signing with Washington, or finishing his career in Dynamo Moscow (KHL); the Capitals will support his decision, and there may be no formal farewell if he departs.
Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin, 40, says he will wait until the off-season to decide if this season will be his final in the NHL, nearing the end of his contract while focusing on helping Washington reach the playoffs; he will consult with family and Capitals leadership before making a decision in the summer.
Washington defeated Vegas 5-4 in a shootout to pull their playoff odds up to 8.8% from 5.3% after sprinting to a 3-0 lead before Vegas fought back. Dylan Strome forced overtime and the Capitals sealed the win in the shootout, highlighting a still-tight chase for one of the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spots with eight games remaining and a potential maximum of 99 points if they win out.
The Washington Capitals built a 3-0 lead against the Vegas Golden Knights, but Vegas stormed back with four unanswered goals to force overtime. The Capitals ultimately won 5-4 in a shootout. Adin Hill struggled for Vegas, while Logan Thompson delivered a clutch glove save in the shootout. Aliaksei Protas exited with an upper-body injury after a collision with Nic Dowd, who returned later and scored. Ovechkin had no goals or defensive shifts, and Washington clings to playoff hopes after a chaotic, late-night game.
Aliaksei Protas left Washington’s game with an upper-body injury after colliding head-first with Nic Dowd; Dowd returned to score a shorthanded goal as Vegas mounted a comeback, while Protas had logged the most ice time among Capitals forwards early and was ruled out for the rest of the game.
The St. Louis Blues defeated the Washington Capitals 3-0 in St. Louis. Jimmy Snuggerud opened the scoring, Otto Stenberg added a late third-period goal, and Jordan Kyrou iced the win with an empty-netter as the Capitals struggled to generate offense and were outplayed throughout.
Alex Ovechkin reached 1,000 combined goals (923 regular-season, 77 playoff) in a 3-2 OT loss to Colorado, narrowing the all-time gap to Gretzky to 16. He celebrated quietly, and a Russian-language interview suggested he downplays the significance of the combined stat, arguing that every goal is a record and that he’ll chase milestones including playoff goals as well.
The Washington Capitals defeated the New Jersey Devils 2-1 in a tight Metropolitan Division battle, with Ryan Leonard opening the scoring, Aliaksei Protas adding an empty-netter, and Jesper Bratt scoring late to narrow the gap; Logan Thompson delivered key saves for Washington as Cole Hutson impressed with his physical play, helping the Caps keep their slim playoff hopes alive.
Rookie Cole Hutson scored his first NHL goal in his Capitals debut, then endured a shaving-cream pie to the face from veteran Tom Wilson during the postgame interview, a playful ritual Wilson has used on Capitals rookies.