Each Monday throughout the season, we’ll take a look at the previous week (and in this case, the previous week plus a few days) to see who is on the upswing and who stumbled, and reflect back on a highlight and lowlight from the week.
Note: If a player is listed as “trending up”, that does not mean they have been perfect; if they are “trending down”, it doesn’t mean they had the worst week ever. So don’t come for us.
Here is how things went for the Washington Capitals in Week 2 of the 2023-24 season:
- Record: 3-1-0
- Goals Against: 11
- Goals For: 12
- PP: 3-for-12 – 25%
- PK: 7-for-9 – 77.8%
Trending Up:
- Alex Ovechkin. The captain may not be 100% what we’re used to seeing, but he’s a) putting up points and goals and b) finding new, creative ways to do so. Something that’s been interesting to watch in Ovechkin as he’s aged is that you can tell when he can tell he’s not quite there with his shot, and he’s picked up his passing play in response. It works for him, and a two-goal, six-point week works for us.
- Dylan Strome. The hot hand, the titan of ties, and the only Capitals player with a two-goal game so far this season (and he picked up his second of those this week).
- Darcy Kuemper. A somewhat shaky outing against the Leafs aside, Kuemper did everything he was asked and then some this week, including a stellar performance that dragged his team to a shootout win over the Wild last week. He finished the week with two wins, including a 39-for-41 save win (plus numerous shootout saves) over MIN and a .921 sv% for his efforts.
Trending Down:
- T.J. Oshie. Each of the recent seasons, including this one, has had us have to ask tough questions about some of our longtime favorites. It’s perhaps too early to really ask those questions about #77, but it’s not too early to wonder where he was this week. The answer? Not really on the scoresheet, although there are hopeful signs in his play and his underlying numbers that could mean his downtrending time will be shortlived.
- Matthew Phillips. Perhaps not a surprise that a guy adjusting to being a full-time NHLer is struggling a bit with consistency, but here we are – from going in the right direction to flailing a bit (and seeing his ice time drop in response).
- Rasmus Sandin. His underlying numbers actually haven’t been so bad, but on a team that’s struggling a bit to find the back of the net, the Caps need all the offensive weapons firing as much as possible. There’s already less offensive potency back on the blueline than there was last season, and right now it’s just Carlson carrying the load, while Sandin is one of five players (and three defensemen) to play in at least three games this week and not pick up a point.
Lowlight of the Week
Alex Ovechkin, who was still goalless at this point, draws a penalty shot. The goalless streak is about to end, right? Well…
Highlight of the Week
Some excellent penalty killing at one end turns into a three-on-three rush the other way, and the first shorthanded goal of the season by big #43: