| Outlet | This Week | Last Week | What They’re Saying |
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1 | 2 | Big picture
Nothing to see here, just a five-game winning streak. Oh, and by the way, the Caps haven’t lost consecutive games all season. Washington has now tied Dallas for first overall in the NHL but has the benefit of both a game in hand and a superior goal differential. After a 7-3 victory over the Rangers on Sunday, Washington also now enjoys an eight-point lead in the Metropolitan Division. By the numbers Nicklas Backstrom recorded three assists on Sunday, helping out with Washington’s game-tying goal, go-ahead goal and insurance marker as part of a six-goal onslaught that erased a 3-1 New York lead. That brought his total up to seven points over the four games this week and pushed him to 31 points in just 29 games on the season. (December 21) |
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1 | 2 | Currently on a six-game winning streak, the Caps have gone 13-1-1 over the last month. They haven’t lost consecutive games and Braden Holtby seems to keep getting better as the season progresses. (December 22) |
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1 | 3 | Think the Caps can only win when Braden Holtby stands on his head? Not so fast. The Caps showed versatility with two comeback wins last week thanks to an offensive explosion. This team is firing on all cylinders. (December 21) |
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1 | 1 | The Capitals are in the midst of a five-game winning streak after a 7-3 drubbing of the Rangers on Sunday, scoring six unanswered goals for the victory. They completed a similar victory on Friday, scoring five unanswered goals in a 5-3 win over the Lightning. The Caps are 12-1-1 in their past 14 games. (December 21) |
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1 | 1 | The Capitals are playing on a whole different level. Twice this week they found themselves down big, 3-0 midway through the second period to the Tampa Bay Lightning and 3-1 after a period against the New York Rangers. They won both games, 5-3 and 7-3 respectively. They are on pace for 128 points. (December 21) |
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1 | 1 | The Washington Capitals can win it any way you’d like. Get down a couple of goals? Not a problem, they’ll just pour it on and come back. Need to get down and gritty? They’ve got that covered too, winning their sixth straight game on the weekend with two goals from their bottom-six forwards and using their backup goalie Philipp Grubauer.
That’s why the Capitals have become a fixture at or near the top of thn.com’s Power Rankings this season. The Capitals have teased us before with great regular seasons, but this one just seems to have a different feel to it. These guys look like they’re for real. (December 23) |
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2 | 2 | You could make a strong case for the Capitals as the best team in the league, especially since their goaltending is better than Dallas’. The No. 2 spot isn’t bad, though. Washington also has a six-game win streak. (December 23) |
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1 | 1 | Good: The power play is clicking and they’re winning even when facing multiple goal deficits.
Not so good: The injury to defenseman Brooks Orpik has created a glaring possession issue; the Capitals have a 47.0 SAT percentage in 19 games without Orpik after having a 54.0 SAT percentage in 14 games with him, according to War-on-Ice.com. (December 18) |
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2 | 2 | [“Wish List edition”] Christmas was in July, when the Caps landed T.J. Oshie and Justin Williams, who have been nothing short of terrific. So, and we’re definitely nitpicking here, how about Alex Ovechkin returns to a point-per-game pace? (December 23) |
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1 | 1 | Just call ’em the Cardiac Caps. In each of their past two wins, they fell behind early, 3–1 to the Rangers and 3–0 to the Lightning—but kept their cool and battled their way back. That ability to handle adversity is a trait that’s bound to pay dividends come playoff time. Last week: 4-0-0 (December 22) |
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– | 1 | (Last updated December 14) |
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– | 1 | (Last updated December 17) |
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2 | 2 | The Capitals remain hot on the trail of the Stars with six straight wins, and if there’s an advantage to be had over Dallas, it could be in goal, where Braden Holtby and Philipp Grubauer have combined to give the Capitals a .939 save percentage in December.
Key Injuries: D Brooks Orpik (lower body). (December 24) |
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1 | 2 | The Washington Capitals have been on a tear lately, going 8-1-1 in their past 10 games, and beating teams in dominant fashion. T.J. Oshie and Justin Williams have fit right in with their new team, and Alex Ovechkin, Nick Backstrom, and John Carlson are playing exceptional hockey, just like they always do.
The Capitals have seen a decline in their even strength numbers, so there are some concerns about their possession play, but right now, they look like such a dominant team that it would be a crime not to give them the number one spot.(December 21) |
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1 | 2 | Braden Holtby recently went through an eight-game stretch in which he didn’t allow more than two goals a game. (December 21) |
Click on logos for links to full power rankings.