INSIDER
Nicklas Backstrom is unlikely to play again this season, Capitals GM Brian MacLellan says
Read full article: Nicklas Backstrom is unlikely to play again this season, Capitals GM Brian MacLellan saysWashington Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan says it's unlikely Nicklas Backstrom plays again this season.
Nicklas Backstrom is taking a leave of absence from the Washington Capitals because of his hip
Read full article: Nicklas Backstrom is taking a leave of absence from the Washington Capitals because of his hipWashington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom is taking a leave of absence from the team because of what he called an “ongoing injury situation” after a slow start to the season on his artificial left hip.
Ovechkin passes Howe with No. 787; Coyotes beat Capitals 3-2
Read full article: Ovechkin passes Howe with No. 787; Coyotes beat Capitals 3-2Alex Ovechkin scored his 787th career goal to break Gordie Howe’s record for scoring with one team, but the Arizona Coyotes scored three times in the third period to rally for a 3-2 win against the Washington Capitals.
Panthers beat Capitals in overtime in Game 4, tie series
Read full article: Panthers beat Capitals in overtime in Game 4, tie seriesSam Reinhart tied it late in regulation, Carter Verhaeghe scored his second of the game in overtime and the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Florida Panthers beat the Washington Capitals 3-2 in Game 4 to tie the first-round series.
Panthers rout Capitals 5-1 in Game 2 to even series
Read full article: Panthers rout Capitals 5-1 in Game 2 to even seriesAleksander Barkov and Carter Verhaeghe each had a goal and an assist, and the Florida Panthers topped the Washington Capitals 5-1 on Thursday night to even their Eastern Conference first-round series at a game apiece.
Ovechkin now 3rd on NHL goals list, Caps beat Isles in SO
Read full article: Ovechkin now 3rd on NHL goals list, Caps beat Isles in SOAlex Ovechkin scored his 767th goal to pass Jaromir Jagr for third on the NHL career list in the Washington Capitals’ 4-3 shootout victory against the New York Islanders.
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.
Capitals beat Flyers in overtime, Penguins win East Division
Read full article: Capitals beat Flyers in overtime, Penguins win East DivisionConor Sheary scored the overtime winner and the short-handed Washington Capitals beat the Philadelphia Flyers 2-1 to guarantee they’ll open the playoffs at home.
Capitals hold on to beat Rangers for 10th win in 11 games
Read full article: Capitals hold on to beat Rangers for 10th win in 11 games(AP Photo/Nick Wass)WASHINGTON – Capitals players and coach Peter Laviolette sounded as if they'd lost after holding on to beat the New York Rangers 5-4 Sunday. Washington has won 10 of 11 games to move two points up on the second-place New York Islanders and looks primed for another deep playoff run. “If there’s a trend, we want to address it,” said Wilson, who has five points in four games since returning from a seven-game suspension. And their best players are producing: Ovechkin has 11 goals in 11 games and leads the team with 18; Kuznetsov has 12 points in 10 games and Jakub Vrana picked up his first point in five games. Keith Kinkaid made 17 saves for the Rangers, who have lost back-to-back one-goal games after a three-game winning streak.
Ovechkin scores twice, red-hot Capitals shut out Devils 4-0
Read full article: Ovechkin scores twice, red-hot Capitals shut out Devils 4-0Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates his goal with the bench during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the New Jersey Devils, Friday, March 26, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)WASHINGTON – Alex Ovechkin scored twice, Ilya Samsonov made 24 saves and the Washington Capitals rode their best players to a 4-0 victory Friday night and two-game sweep of the New Jersey Devils. Ovechkin has scored 10 times in his past 10 games and has a team-best 17 goals this season. Nicklas Backstrom scored his 13th goal of the season, while Evgeny Kuznetsov and Tom Wilson each had two assists. With Ovechkin rolling, the Capitals have won nine of their past 10 games and are back atop the East Division.
Ovechkin matches Esposito with 717th goal; Caps rout Sabres
Read full article: Ovechkin matches Esposito with 717th goal; Caps rout SabresOvechkin matched Phil Esposito for sixth on the NHL list with his 717th goal and the Washington Capitals beat the Buffalo Sabres 6-0 on Monday night. Vitek Vanecek stopped 23 shots for his first NHL shutout and improved to 4-0-1 against the Sabres. Backstrom’s 11th goal of the season came in his 984th game with the Capitals, passing Calle Johansson for second-most games in franchise history. Hutton made 24 saves for Buffalo, which is 0-9-2 in its past 11 games, the third-longest skid in team history. AdThe Sabres recalled center Rasmus Asplund from the taxi squad and sent defenseman Brandon Davidson to the taxi squad.
Laughton's 1st hat trick lifts Flyers past Capitals, 7-4
Read full article: Laughton's 1st hat trick lifts Flyers past Capitals, 7-4(AP Photo/Nick Wass)WASHINGTON – Scott Laughton scored his first career hat trick, Sean Couturier had two goals in his first game back following a rib injury and the Philadelphia Flyers pulled away for a 7-4 victory over the Washington Capitals on Sunday. “It’s a big win after losing those two games the way we did to Boston,” Flyers coach Alain Vigneault said. Laughton completed his hat trick to give the Flyers insurance on another rebound after Anderson’s pad save of Farabee, and Couturier added a late empty netter. MILESTONESFlyers: Van Riemsdyk contributed his 100th assist across two stints with the Flyers on Laughton's second goal. AdUP NEXTThe Capitals and Flyers meet again in Washington on Tuesday night.
Ovechkin returns, scores OT winner as Capitals beat Bruins
Read full article: Ovechkin returns, scores OT winner as Capitals beat BruinsWashington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8), of Russia, celebrates his game-winning goal in overtime of an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021, in Washington. In his first game since Jan. 19, Ovechkin scored the overtime winner to help the Washington Capitals beat the Boston Bruins 4-3 Saturday night in a showdown between the top teams in the NHL’s East Division. After Ovechkin missed the previous four games because of COVID-19 protocols, the high-scoring forward showed his career-long flair for the dramatic by beating Tuukka Rask with a perfect shot 28 seconds into overtime. “It was fun,” said Ovechkin, who also had an assist while being eased back in with 14 minutes of ice time. The Capitals beat the Bruins for the 17th time in 19 regular-season games dating to 2015.
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.
Canes' season paused, while Caps play on without 4 regulars
Read full article: Canes' season paused, while Caps play on without 4 regularsFor Peter Laviolette, his Washington Capitals will keep playing for the next week without four prominent players who broke the rules. There's no indication the Capitals are being shut down, though they will have to play the next four games without captain Alex Ovechkin, No. The NHL defers to local authorities, and the minimum four games for the Capitals players relates to the District of Columbia's quarantine regulations. The Hurricanes have so far had three games postponed because of their outbreak and won't play for at least a week. I think that’s really what we’re going to find out.”___AP Sports Writers Aaron Beard and Stephen Hawkins contributed.
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.
Ovechkin helps Capitals rally past Islanders to avoid sweep
Read full article: Ovechkin helps Capitals rally past Islanders to avoid sweepTORONTO, ONT After his team gave up two goals less than halfway through the first period, Washington coach Todd Rierden called a timeout. It was also the first goal Washington scored after the second period in this series. Washington controlled the play in the second period, keeping the puck in the offensive zone for much of the time. The Capitals outshot the Islanders 15-7 in the period and scored twice to tie it. ... New York's Cal Clutterbuck left the game in the second period after a hit by Washington's Radko Gudas and did not return.