For fans of the Washington Capitals, the 2018 Stanley Cup win is becoming an increasingly distant memory in the wake of the mediocrity that has followed since.
But they look to be an altogether different animal under Spencer Carbery this term, with an excellent 28-10 (with five overtime losses) record after 43 games propelling them to the top of the Eastern Conference.
Meanwhile, over in the NFL, the Washington Commanders have reached the NFC divisional finals; their best run in the postseason since 2005.
As for the Washington Wizards… well, two out of three isn’t bad.
Clearly, something is stirring in the capital. Could Washington’s dynamic sports teams bring glory back to the state in 2025, starting with the Capitals’ hopes of a third Stanley Cup finals appearance?
Capital Punishers
Exciting, entertaining, overachieving. The similarities between the Capitals and the Commanders are surprisingly strong.
Carbery’s team have brought a fascinating offensive outlook to the NHL this term, casting aside their struggles of 2023-24 to – at the time of writing at least – sit in second place in the regular season standings for goals scored per game.
And yet they are still to record a shutout after 43 games, which is an extraordinary feat for a conference leader.
That really does echo the dynamic at the Commanders, whose offensive play has been riveting to watch, but whose defensive frailties – particularly against a running offense – have been laid bare on numerous occasions.
That’s why the Washington franchise was still priced at +2800 in the Super Bowl betting even after winning their first playoff game. However, there’s no doubt that with some smart defensive recruits during the off season, the Commanders could well contend for honors in 2025-26.
The Capitals, meanwhile, are only considered a +2000 chance to win the Stanley Cup in 2025, but the progress that they are making with a young, dynamic team and an innovative coach could see them kick on yet further in 2025-26.
So could it be double-delight for Washington in the year or so ahead?
The Sharpest Shooters
Any doubts over the sustainability of the Capitals’ form can be kicked to the curb when you look at the efficiency of their offensive play.
They ranked second in the NHL for points per game after 43 outings, but perhaps as importantly led the way in Shooting Percentage, an often overlooked stat that reveals just how efficient a team is in finding the back of the net.
There are, however, as many as eleven franchises that have yielded to fewer shots per game than the Washington outfit, while 15 goaltenders have been forced into making fewer saves than Logan Thompson and Charlie Lindgren, who have shared goalkeeping duties thus far.
Carbery’s aggressive ‘we’ll score more than you’ approach is commendable, and explains why the Capitals have been amongst the best teams to watch in the NHL this season. But in 12 of their games – more than 25% — they have conceded four or more goals, and that’s a level of defensive frailty that ultimately could cost them a deep run in the playoffs.
History Maker
For all the discourse about Washington’s strengths and weaknesses, there’s another factor that cannot be understated: the presence of Alex Ovechkin on the ice.
The Russian is now within range of Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL scoring record, having added his 20th goal of the season in the 4-1 win over the Nashville Predators earlier in January.
Alex Ovechkin has scored goal No. 873! 🚨
22 goals to pass Wayne Gretzky for most all-time.
— Ovechkin Goal Tracker (@OvechkinGoal) January 12, 2025
That means that Ovechkin is only the second player in NHL history to score 20+ goals in 20 consecutive seasons, with Gordie Howe the only other individual to match the 39-year-old’s feat. However, the jury is out on whether he can reel in another remarkable Gretzky milestone of 2,000 career points, given that the Russian is still 400 or so shy.
Either way, he’ll need to get moving in his pursuit of new records as his Caps contract ends at the culmination of the 2025-26 campaign, when he’ll be 40 years old.
Without wanting to resort to cliché, Ovechkin is a game winner; a player with the ability to come up with a crucial goal at the most important of times. That’s a skill set that is most welcome in tight playoff games in particular, so it will be all eyes on the Russian if/when the Capitals qualify for the postseason.
Washington haven’t gone past the first round of the playoffs since that fateful 2018 season, with their most recent attempt ending in a 0-4 humiliation at the hands of the Rangers in 2024.
But with their new-found offensive style, and the continued majesty of Ovechkin still at large, the Capitals can have far loftier ambitions this time around.
