For Washington Capitals fans, the 2018 Stanley Cup victory is becoming an increasingly distant memory in the wake of the mediocrity that followed.
But they look like a completely different animal under Spencer Carberry this term, with a perfect 28-10 record (with five overtime losses) through 43 games that has propelled them to the top of the Eastern Conference.
Meanwhile, in the NFL, the Washington Cardinals have reached the NFC Divisional Finals. their best postseason run since 2005.
As for the Washington Wizards… well, two out of three ain’t bad.
It is obvious that something is stirring in the capital. Can Washington’s dynamic sports teams bring glory to the state in 2025, starting with the Capitals’ hopes for a third Stanley Cup Final appearance?
Capital punishments
Interesting, funny, superior. The similarities between capitals and commanders are surprisingly strong.
Carberry’s team brought a a fascinating offensive look NHL this term, putting aside their 2023-24 struggle to, at least at the time of writing, rank second in the regular season standings in goals per game.
And yet, they have yet to record a shutout after 43 games, an extraordinary feat for a conference leader.
It does repeat the dynamic of the Commanders, whose offensive game is fascinating to watch, but their defensive weaknesses, especially against the running attack, have been exposed time and time again.
That’s why the Washington franchise was still valued at +$2,800 Super Bowl Betting even after winning their first playoff game. However, there’s no question that thanks to some smart defensive recruiting in the offseason, the Commanders could well contend for honors in 2025-26.
While the Capitals are only considered a +2000 chance to win the Stanley Cup in 2025, the progress they are making with a young, dynamic team and an innovative coach could see them advance further in 2025-26.
So could it be double the fun for Washington in the coming year?
The sharpest shooters
Any doubts about the sustainability of the Capitals’ form can be put to rest when you look at the effectiveness of their attacking play.
They’re tied for second in the NHL in points per game after 43 games, but perhaps just as importantly, they’re tied for the lead in shooting percentage, an often-overlooked stat that shows how effective a team is at finding the back of the net.
However, there are eleven franchises that have conceded less hits per game than the Washington outfit, while 15 goaltenders have had to make fewer saves than Logan Thompson and Charlie Lindgren have shared the goaltending duties thus far.
Carbery’s aggressive “we’re going to score more goals than you” approach is commendable, and explains why the Capitals are one of the best teams to watch in the NHL this season. But they’ve conceded four or more goals in 12 of their games, over 25%, and that’s a level of defensive weakness that could ultimately cost them a deep run in the playoffs.
A history maker
Despite the talk of Washington’s strengths and weaknesses, there’s another factor that can’t be understated: Alex Ovechkin’s presence on the ice.
Russ is now within Wayne Gretzky’s all-time mark NHL scoring recordadding his 20th goal of the season in a 4-1 win over the Nashville Predators in early January.
Alex Ovechkin became the author of the 873rd goal. 🚨
22 goals to pass Wayne Gretzky all-time.
— Ovechkin Goal Tracker (@OvechkinGoal) January 12, 2025
That means Ovechkin is only the second player in NHL history to score 20+ goals in 20 consecutive seasons, with Gordie Howe the only other person to match the 39-year-old’s feat. However, the jury is out on whether he can spin into someone else A remarkable event in Gretzky or 2,000 career points, given that the Russian is still 400 or so shy.
Either way, he needs to get going in pursuit of his new records Caps contract expires At the peak of the 2025-26 campaign, when he will turn 40.
Not wanting to resort to clichés, Ovechkin is a game winner. a player capable of scoring important goals at the most important moments. It’s a skill set that’s most welcome, especially in tight playoff games, so all eyes will be on the Russian if/when the Capitals qualify for the postseason.
Washington hasn’t advanced past the first round of the playoffs since that fateful 2018 season, when their last attempt ended with an 0-4 humbling by the Rangers in 2024.
But with their newfound offensive style and Ovechkin’s continued prowess still on the loose, the Capitals may have much higher ambitions this time around.
