Throughout the season, we’ll check in on the Washington Capitals to see which players, positions, and/or systems are hot and who is…well, not. We’ll kick things off with a look at how the team has done in their games between October 12 and October 19.
Hot Front
Tom Wilson. Wilson is easily the hottest player on the Caps to start the season, and really one of the hottest in the league over the last week (and yes, we mean only in terms of playing hockey well, and nothing else). With five goals in four games, including the big overtime game-winner – the fourth OT GWG of his career – Saturday night, Wilson has started his 2024-25 campaign off with a bang.
Dylan Strome. Last year’s points leader for the team is back at it again, leading the squad with seven points (3G, 4A) through the team’s first four games. That includes two points on the power play…aka a point on each of the power play goals scored by the team so far this season. Add in a 52.9% faceoff percentage, highest on the team (min. 10 draws) and that’s a nice start to the year for #17.
The offense. The Caps are currently scoring at a 4.00 goals/game, which is tied for the third-highest scoring rate in the league right now, and have scored at least three goals in each of their first four games. They’re generating offense and offensive chances, with a fourth-best xGF% at evens at 53.61%.
That’s impressive on a number of levels (and not just because offense was nonexistent last season).
First, the majority of their goals are coming at even strength – they are averaging a league-best 3.25 goals at five on five. Second, they’re getting scoring from throughout the lineup; while Wilson and Strome are leading the way, and the second line has been particularly hot, they’re not relying on one player or one line to carry the offense. Even the defense is getting in on the action, with John Carlson, Jakob Chychrun, and Trevor van Riemsdyk combining for 10 points.
Cold Snap
The third line. This was the biggest battle through training camp and yet it still feels like maybe the team hasn’t hit on a solution. Andrew Mangiapane is the only player of that trio who has been noticeable at all through the first week (in a good way, mostly) and the only one with multiple points. Jakub Vrana, Sonny Milano and Hendrix Lapierre have combined for exactly one point – Vrana’s goal, early in Game #2.
Considering the rest of the lines are producing and the team is winning, this may have to be one of those things that doesn’t get addressed right away, because there’s no need to…and hopefully, with time, they’ll find their legs as a line.
The power play. It’s a good thing the team’s offense is clicking at even strength, because the power play continues to be an issue, with the team going just 2-for-13 so far this year. In some ways, this is just same nonsense, different season – but it has looked better overall than it did in its darkest times last year, with Chychrun and Strome in particular doing a great job of helping the team gain the zone cleanly and set up shop. The hope is some of this is just growing pains and early season; a lot of the newer faces in DC are being used on the power play, and it could take some time to get everyone on the same page. They’re getting their chances, with an xGF% in the top 10 leaguewide; now they just need to start converting.