Washington Capitals Quarter-In Quarter-In – Hockey Writers – Washington Articles
Washington’s headlines have been a puzzle for much of the 2025-26 season, but as we reach the quarter-way mark, it appears to be trending in the right direction. American Thanksgiving has traditionally been a time to assess a team’s chances of making the playoffs. For the 13-9-2 title, which sits in the top three in the most crowded metropolitan division, a return to postseason play should be possible.
The Titles started the season strong with six wins from their first eight games. A 7-1 loss on Oct. 25 to the Ottawa Senators began a four-game skid. Washington beat St. Louis Blues 6-1 on November 5th and went 3-4-0 in their next seven games. In their last four games, the titles got a decisive win against the Montreal Canadiens (8-4 in November blue (5-1 and November 4), a 4-3 win against the Winnipeg Jets in November November (5-3 November 22).
October was a strange month for articles. They led the league for several weeks in fewest goals allowed while trailing near the goal. Goaltender Logan Thompson raised the NHL in several statistical categories, but could not find support for his case. The titles are dominated at five-on-five, but they had one of the worst power plays in the league. To cap off the month, in a Halloween game against the New York Islanders, Second-Line Center Pierre-Luc Dubois suffered an abdominal injury that will keep him out of the lineup for the next few months.
The Capitals’ special teams struggled
In their season opener against the Boston Bruins, the Cubs went 0-5 on the power play, setting the tone for the first quarter of the season. Power play shooting percentages over 15%, 27th in the NHL. In 2024-25, they finished 13th, hitting prices of 23.5%. Alex Ovechkin, the NHL’s All-Time Leader in Power Play Lines (327), scored only one goal on a man – despite playing on the first and second units in the first and second games of most games.
Despite scoring two power-play goals against the Canadiens on November 20, the headlines went from bad to worse for the man with a reason. In a 5-3 loss to the Lightning on Nov. 22, the Cubs went 0-6 on the power play.
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“We don’t make plays,” said Tom Wilson. “We don’t make simple plays. We don’t move. It’s a little bit worrying, maybe. When you have the next puck, it doesn’t seem like it at all, they should be able to get them with the back of the net. I mean, it’s expensive for US games. So it’s not good enough, obviously.”
The penalty kill has also been struggling, with a kill rate of 72.7% – ninth worst in the NHL. In the 2024-25 Season, the titles executed about 10% of their penalties. They have allowed more than one power play goal in four games this season, including three against the Senators and Pittsburgh Penguins.
Strong Efforts for Strong Desires
Despite a shaky start, the titles have been a strong defensive team – at least on power. They rank eighth in the NHL with 64 goals allowed. They have allowed an average of 3.33 goals per game, sixth in the league. In terms of five-on-five, they are third in goals allowed.
The articles have done a good job balancing the fun-minded defenses with closed genres. Martin Fereavary has often shown quickness, stamina, and physicality, allowing teammate John Carlson to step up in the play and work of the blue line. Matt Roy did the same for his partner, Jakob Chychrun. With so many leading scorers, Carlson and Chychrun are tied for second on the team in scoring, with 22 points apiece.
Last season, the second line, centered around Dubois, was more effective at shutting down opposing opponents. With Dubois out of the lineup, Head Coach Carbery Spencer Carbery had a tough time finding a replacement. Recently, Rookie Justin Sourdif has been successful in the line of concentration of Aleksei Protas and Wilson, using his speed and a high level of competitive driving.
Thompson led the organization for several weeks in goals-against average and save percentage, making a strong case for why he should be included on Canada’s Olympic roster. Although he returned to the world late, he is out of the top ten in many statistical categories. Thompson and his managing partner, Charlie Lindgren, put together the seventh-best tandem in the league.
Capitals have goals to be flexible
Wilson leads the team with 23 points, followed by Carlson, Chychrun, and Oviethkin with 22 each. Protas, dylan strome, and connor mcmichael are all working in the word department, and all the leading shooting percentages (except wilson’s) are down significantly from last season.
The articles have received opportunities, but they are struggling to finish. In terms of five-on-five, they were close to the top of the league in expected percentage – Goals Percentage, percentage of chances, and the number of high-danger chances. However, the team is 6-1-0 in their last seven games, and their offensive numbers are trending higher.
Ovechkin has started to warm up again, and Protas, Strome, and McMichael are showing signs of resurgence. Ryan Leonard is tied for fifth among all NHL rookies in scoring. Sonny Milano, who was often drafted early in the season, is back in the bottom – six where he provided an offensive spark. The only player who continues to struggle at an alarming rate is Hendrix Lapierre, who has yet to score and has been benched several times this season.
Capitals predictions and predictions
Even when they went down, the sub-headers, especially at five-on-five, were good. If they can’t find special teams, they will challenge for the Metropolitan title.
If the titles can not manage to reach the playoffs while healthy, when Dubois returns to lock the second line, they will be dangerous, but an injury to any key player, especially a speed player, can be a speed thing, can be speed. Last season, Fervary’s absence was most noticeable in the Capitals’ second series
The goals start coming, and the shooting percentages start to rise. McMichael’s protas and numbers from last season may be difficult to replicate, but at least they are trending. With NIC Dowd currently injured and Lapierre struggling to fight back, the titles need to find consistency in the bottom of the sixth. Surdif has earned the trust of his coach, and when Dubois returns, look for him to lock down the third line. The headlines seem to have had a rough start, but hope has returned to the nation’s capital.
