8 – Number of days remaining until the start of the Capitals’ 2020-21 season. But it’s also…
…the number of overtime and shootout losses earned by the Caps last year. Including wins, the Caps picked up at least one standings point in 49 of their 69 games, tied for the fourth-most with the Cup-champion Lightning and one of just four teams to have at least 40 wins and at least eight overtime/shootout wins.
The only team in the new East Division with more OT/SO points last season was the Bruins; getting points wherever they can will be crucial for the Caps again this year, as they get set for a purely intradivisional schedule.