The playoffs were a tough ending to an up and down season for the Capitals. After being eliminated in just four games, it was disappointing but good to see the young guys like McMichael and Lapierre step up and play well under the high pressure of the postseason. This team exceeded expectations considering the roster turnover from the start of the season, evolving in a way we couldn't have anticipated. But in the end, it presented an opportunity for the next generation of Capitals to gain valuable experience. The status of veterans like Oshie remains unclear, as his back problems may force him ..read more

Tom Wilson is a critical piece of the Washington Capitals' present and future success. As one of the team's alternate captains and a veteran at just 30 years old, Wilson provides invaluable leadership on and off the ice. His rare blend of physicality, offensive production, and intangibles make him a keystone player. This past season, despite injuries and lineup shuffles, Wilson still produced at a high level with 18 goals and 35 points in 74 games while making his second All-Star appearance. With Alex Ovechkin entering the twilight of his illustrious career in Washington, Wilson's role as a le ..read more

TJ Oshie's future in the NHL remains uncertain as he continues to battle chronic back issues that have plagued him in recent seasons. Oshie acknowledged that it would be difficult to definitively say he is retiring, expressing a desire to continue playing if he could get some assurance that his back problems can be resolved. The lingering pain has been his biggest obstacle to playing at 100%, making it a challenge just to get his body ready for games. Things reached a breaking point this past season when, after only playing 8 games, Oshie suffered a hard hit from Artemi Panarin in the playoffs ..read more

The Capitals were unceremoniously swept in the first round of the playoffs by the New York Rangers, abruptly ending what was largely a disappointing season for the once-mighty franchise. This humiliating defeat makes it clear that changes must be made this offseason if the Capitals hope to regain their competitive edge. GM Brian MacLellan faces tough questions about who should stay and who should go as he looks to retool the roster. As hockey insiders Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman discussed, one player who could be on the move is goalie Darcy Kuemper. After the Capitals acquired him  w ..read more

The Washington Capitals' season came to an abrupt and disappointing end tonight as they were swept in four games by the New York Rangers in the first round of the NHL playoffs. After defying expectations all regular season long by clawing their way into the postseason despite an aging roster, lack of depth, and trading away key players at the deadline, the Caps ultimately fell flat when it mattered most. Right from the opening puck drop of Game 1, it was clear this series would be uphill battle for Washington. A careless giveaway by defenseman Nick Jensen led directly to an early Rangers goal ..read more

I entered this game with a positive mindset, fully believing that the Capitals, playing on their home turf, would not allow themselves to go 0-3 in the series. My optimism soared when John Carlson scored, putting the Caps on the board and boosting my confidence in their ability to dominate the game. However, my positivity was swiftly dashed when the Rangers responded almost immediately to Carlson's goal with one of their own. Chris Kreider tied the game at 1-1, showcasing the Rangers' resilience and determination to match the Capitals at every turn. This quick response highlighted the Capitals ..read more

The Washington Capitals are looking to jump start their sputtering offense heading into Game 3 of their first round playoff series against the New York Rangers , and it appears coach Peter Laviolette is ready to shake up his forward lines in an effort to generate more scoring. If Thursday's practice was any indication, it seems rookie winger Ivan Miroshnichenko will slot into the lineup on the fourth line, replacing veteran grinder Nicolas Aube-Kubel on right wing. Aube-Kubel was relegated to working with the scratches after practice, a clear sign his spot is in jeopardy. Laviolette has kept h ..read more

The Washington Capitals, with Alex Ovechkin at the forefront, find themselves navigating through some challenges early in the NHL season. Ovechkin, a player known for his dynamic scoring ability and leadership, surprisingly recorded all zeros in the first game and managed only one shot on goal in the third game, signaling a potential dip in his usual high-level performance. His involvement, or lack thereof, has sparked concerns among fans and analysts alike, especially after a mishandled pass led to Mika Zibanejad scoring a goal for the New York Rangers, further highlighting Ovechkin's off mom ..read more

The Capitals fell 4-2 in their second game of the playoffs against the Rangers, a disappointing result after showing promise early on. The Caps started strong, controlling the pace in the first 10 minutes and generating hope they could pull out a win. However, sloppy play and costly penalties ultimately doomed Washington. Connor McMichael initially got the Caps on the board, but New York soon stole back momentum with a deflected goal that tied it up. As the Rangers began dictating the game's flow, Mika Zibanejad and Jack Roslovic managed to beat Caps goalie Charlie Lindgren to make it 3-2. Ale ..read more

In this edition of Locked on Capitals Dan talks about the status of Nick Jensen and Rasmus Sandin. Both are blue liners that were injured recently and play a huge role on defense. Call up Vincent Iorio was injured Sunday afternoon against New York, so it's important to have Jensen and Sandin ready to go. Later Dan talks about the player interviews and what their thoughts were on how they played and what must improve to win the series. In the last segment Dan talks about Andrew Cristall getting assigned to the Hershey Bears in their push to win another Calder Cup Join our LOCKED ON CAPS INSIDER ..read more