INSIDER
NHL has no appetite to expand playoffs beyond its 16-team tournament for the Stanley Cup
Read full article: NHL has no appetite to expand playoffs beyond its 16-team tournament for the Stanley CupThe NHL is the only major North American professional sports league that has not expanded its playoffs in recent years.
NHL playoff race heats up as the Capitals, Flyers and Red Wings are vying for 2 spots in the East
Read full article: NHL playoff race heats up as the Capitals, Flyers and Red Wings are vying for 2 spots in the EastWhile the eight playoff teams in the NHL's Western Conference are all but settled, the race is on in the East, with three teams vying for two spots.
Defending Cup champs Golden Knights acquire Hertl. Hurricanes, Panthers dominate deals in the East
Read full article: Defending Cup champs Golden Knights acquire Hertl. Hurricanes, Panthers dominate deals in the EastThe defending Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights acquired Tomas Hertl from San Jose in what so far stands as the biggest deal made on the final day of NHL trading.
Ovechkin beats Tarasov for 750th goal, Capitals top Columbus
Read full article: Ovechkin beats Tarasov for 750th goal, Capitals top ColumbusAlex Ovechkin scored his 20th goal of the season and the 750th of his NHL career to help the Washington Capitals beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-1 and snap a two-game skid.
Ovechkin ties Hull for 4th all-time; Caps down Sabres 5-3
Read full article: Ovechkin ties Hull for 4th all-time; Caps down Sabres 5-3Alex Ovechkin scored his 741st career goal to tie Brett Hull for fourth on the NHL’s all-time list and help the Washington Capitals to a 5-3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres.
Vasilevskiy, Cirelli help Lightning end Capitals' streak
Read full article: Vasilevskiy, Cirelli help Lightning end Capitals' streakAndrei Vasilevskiy made 31 saves, Anthony Cirelli had a goal and two assists, and the Tampa Bay Lightning beat Washington 3-2 to end the Capitals’ eight-game season-opening point streak.
Smith scores in 2nd OT to lead Bruins past Capitals 3-2
Read full article: Smith scores in 2nd OT to lead Bruins past Capitals 3-2Craig Smith scored 5:48 into the second overtime to give the Boston Bruins a 3-2 victory over the Washington Capitals and a 2-1 lead in their East Division first-round playoff series.
Raffl's late goal pushes Capitals past Bruins, 2-1
Read full article: Raffl's late goal pushes Capitals past Bruins, 2-1Michael Raffl scored from a tight angle with 1.8 seconds remaining, Alex Ovechkin saw his first extended action in a couple weeks and the Washington Capitals beat the short-handed Boston Bruins 2-1 in the teams’ regular season finale.
Washington Capitals take 3-0 lead, beat NJ Devils 5-2
Read full article: Washington Capitals take 3-0 lead, beat NJ Devils 5-2Washington Capitals right wing Garnet Hathaway (21) scores a goal past New Jersey Devils goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood (29) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)NEWARK, N.J. – Garnet Hathaway and Daniel Sprong scored in the opening 5:06, the streaking Washington Capitals built a big lead and held off the slumping New Jersey Devils 5-2 on Saturday. Nico Hischier and Pavel Zacha each scored for the second consecutive game for New Jersey, which has lost four of five. The Capitals, who rallied from a two-goal deficit to beat New Jersey last Sunday, learned from that game and started fast. Vanecek, playing in his 16th game, made at least three good saves early in the third period to keep Washington ahead. NOTES: The Devils presented C Travis Zajac a silver stick before the game for playing his 1,000th game last weekend.
Shorthanded Capitals beat Sabres 4-3 in home opener shootout
Read full article: Shorthanded Capitals beat Sabres 4-3 in home opener shootout(AP Photo/Nick Wass)WASHINGTON – Jakub Vrana had a goal and an assist, Vitek Vanecek made 24 saves through overtime and the short-handed Washington Capitals beat the Buffalo Sabres 4-3 in a shootout Friday night in their home opener. Vanecek was perfect in the shootout to pick up his second victory of the season as defenseman John Carlson scored the shootout winner. Buffalo rookie Dylan Cozens scored his first NHL goal on a top-shelf snipe past Vanecek in the second period. Eric Staal and Riley Sheahan each scored his first goal since joining the Sabres. Linus Ullmark made 29 saves and was spotless in the shootout until Carlson beat him.
Guentzel's winner lifts Penguins by Capitals 4-3 in shootout
Read full article: Guentzel's winner lifts Penguins by Capitals 4-3 in shootoutDeSmith figured Ovechkin would try to fire one past him rather than deke his way to the net. DeSmith stayed upright as Ovechkin closed in and felt the familiar smack of rubber hitting him and not the net. “I thought our guys played hard in the second and third against a really good team,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. While Sullivan remains confident Jarry will be fine, he turned to DeSmith to help get Pittsburgh going. Washington went 1 for 4 on the power play, a tap-in goal by Backstrom in the second that gave the Capitals a 3-2 lead.