| Outlet | This Week | Last Week | What They’re Saying |
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2 | 1 | Big picture
Washington had a light week, but it was an important one. A regulation win over Montreal helped narrow the gap between the two teams; the Capitals are now just three points back and have three games in hand on the Price-less Habs. An overtime loss to Winnipeg was less meaningful, but it still added a point to the Capitals’ total. Washington’s in good shape to fight for the Presidents’ Trophy. By the numbers Despite their reputation as an offensive team, the Capitals’ latest run has not been primarily driven by outstanding scoring; over the last 10 games, only Nicklas Backstrom is at the point-per-game mark. Rather, it’s been defence and goaltending. Braden Holtby is 10-1-1 with a .940 save percentage over his last 12 starts. (December 7) |
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3 | 3 | The Caps have collected at least one standings point in 14 of their last 17 games and have won seven of their past nine. Washington still has yet to suffer a loss in consecutive games this season. (December 8) |
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3 | 2 | The Caps did not look their best on their three-game trip to Canada, but they still return home with five points thanks to Braden Holtby’s spectacular play in net. (December 7) |
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1 | 2 | The Capitals’ six-game winning streak ended with Saturday’s 2-1 OT loss to the Jets, but they continue to prove why they are a Stanley Cup contender. Before their loss to the Jets, the Capitals had defeated the Canadiens 3-2 Thursday night in Montreal. (December 7) |
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1 | 1 | Has it been the high-powered offense led by Alexander Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and Evgeny Kuznetsov that has given the Caps points in their last seven games? Eh, kinda, but it’s mostly been Braden Holtby, who has posted a .938 save percentage during that span. With a league-leading 16 wins and a 1.95 goals against average, he’s a legitimate Vezina contender. (December 7) |
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2 | 1 | The Capitals had a six-game winning streak stopped in a controversial 2-1 overtime loss to Winnipeg on the weekend, but they have points in 11 of their past 12 games. (December 9) |
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2 | 3 | The Capitals have leapfrogged the Rangers for first place in the Metropolitan Division with an 8-1-1 record in their last 10 games. Washington also is one of two teams ranked inside the top five in both goals scored and goals against per game. (December 10) |
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2 | 3 | Good: Goalie Braden Holtby entered play Thursday on a streak of five consecutive games without allowing more than two goals.
Not so good: Nothing. They’re better than the League average in every major statistical category (wins, points, goals per game, goals-against per game, shots per game, shots-against per game, power play, penalty kill, save percentage, faceoffs). (December 11) |
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2 | 3 | It’s important to remember that Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, and T.J. Oshie aren’t truly humming yet. (December 9) |
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1 | 3 | How dominant have the Caps been of late? During their just-ended six-game winning streak they spent only 5:35 playing from behind. This is a team that consistently shows up ready to play and once it grabs a lead it rarely lets it go. Last week: 1-0-1 (December 8) |
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– | 1 | (Last updated November 30) |
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2 | 2 | Hey Santa,
Life in the nation’s capital is going swell. We’re winning a bunch of games — seven of our last eight, in fact. I don’t want to sound picky, but this three-on-three overtime is kinda cramping my style a wee bit. If you give us more shootouts (we’ve only had two all year!), I think I could really flex my best skill. Hugs and puppies, T.J. Oshie (December 10) |
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2 | 4 | Had a six-game winning streak snapped with Saturday’s overtime loss at Winnipeg, but the regulation losses remain few and far between.
Key Injuries: D Brooks Orpik (lower body). (December 7) |
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3 | 2 | Despite all of the hubbub about how good the Central Division is this season, the top four teams in our power rankings are the top teams in each division because each division simply has a team that is clearly a cut above the rest of the league.
In the Metropolitan Division, this team is the Washington Capitals, who have dominated the league out of the gate and are looking like a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. It would be so great to see Ovechkin play for the Stanley Cup, given his sheer goal-scoring brilliance over the years, and the fact that he’s never had a chance to play for the trophy before. Now if only we could find a way to get Joe Thornton on the Capitals too…(December 7) |
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3 | 4 | As good as the Caps’ offense is, it’s stellar goaltending from Braden Holtby that has bolstered them up the East ranks. (December 7) |
Click on logos for links to full power rankings.