Washington Capitals
9-6-018 PTS4th in the Metropolitan divisionNHL
Playoff odds
74%
Power play
20.0 %
Penalty kill
76.5 %
Goals per game
3.53
Goals against
3.40
Faceoffs
48.7 %
Playoff odds
All 32 teams →Make playoffs
74%
Top 3 in division
61%
Win the division
4%
Projected points
99
89–109
Performance
Actual goals: on pace for 95 pts
Expected goals: on pace for 72 pts
Expected goals are less rosy: Washington Capitals has benefited from shooting or goaltending luck.
Talent (WAR)
Lineup: 28.4 WAR (4th of 32)
- Logan Thompson11.6
- Alex Tuch2.8
- Tom Wilson2.5
- Jordan Kyrou2.3
- Aliaksei Protas2.1
Injuries
Cost the rest of the way: −0.1 win
- Vincent Desharnais (11 g.)−0.1
- Rasmus Sandin (6 g.)−0.0
Team Pulse · 2026-27
All 32 teams →Team Pulse says which way the team is heading (−100 to +100), first over its last five seasons, then this season. The rating this year, separately, says how good it is right now (0 to 100): an average team can rise fast, an excellent one can decline.
5-year pulse
+8
→ Stable
- RESResults
- →
- OFFOffense
- →
- DEFDefense
- →
- PPPower play
- →
- PKPenalty kill
- →
- GOALGoaltending
- ↑
- POSPossession
- →
Rating this year
61/ 100
11 of 32
Changes as the season goes: after 7 games, last season still counts for 74%. It fades with every game.
Pulse this season
-3
→ Stable
- OFFOffense
- 81
- →
- DEFDefense
- 16
- →
- PPPower play
- 18
- →
- PKPenalty kill
- 49
- →
- GOALGoaltending
- 91
- →
- POSPossession
- 43
- →
- ROSTERRoster
- 78
- →
Why Washington Capitals is stable
- Over 5 years (21-22 to 25-26): index 104.1 → 102.2, stable (+1.0 per season); improving: goaltending and results.
- EV xGF/60: 2.72 → 2.63 (↓ 3.6%, worse)
- EV xGA/60: 2.72 → 3.09 (↑ 13.5%, worse)
- PP xGF/60: 7.87 → 6.33 (↓ 19.6%, worse)
- PK xGA/60: 8.62 → 8.99 (↑ 4.3%, worse)
- EV xG%: 50.0 % → 45.9 % (↓ 8.2%, worse)
- Roster: 2 key players rising, 7 declining, 9 stable.
- The decline comes mostly from defense; the core is stable.
- Early season (7 games): the pulse rests mostly on the roster, and last season still weighs heavily in the rating this year.
See full detailsHide details
Pulse by horizon
| 10 games | Season | 1 year | 3 years | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team Pulse | — | — | -3 | -3 |
| OFF · Offense | — | — | +5 | +7 |
| DEF · Defense | — | — | -16 | -17 |
| PP · Power play | — | — | -9 | -15 |
| PK · Penalty kill | — | — | +13 | +10 |
| GOAL · Goaltending | — | — | +3 | +6 |
| POS · Possession | — | — | -9 | -8 |
| ROSTER · Roster | — | — | -5 | -5 |
— : not enough games yet for that horizon (last 10 vs previous 10: 20 games; season: 25). The 5- and 10-year horizons will come with past seasons' history.
Roster Trend · -5 (core -5)
| Player | Trend | PAL | WAR/60 | Scoring | Passing | Defense | Skating | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jakob ChychrunD · 28 · core | → +8 | +5 | +12 | +1 | +4 | -5 | +3 | 0 |
| Tom WilsonW · 32 · core | → +2 | +2 | -9 | +1 | +5 | +15 | -4 | -15 |
| Alex TuchW · 30 · core | → -5 | -6 | 0 | -2 | -1 | +2 | -4 | -15 |
| Matt RoyD · 31 · core | ↓ -16 | -3 | -6 | -27 | -5 | -1 | -7 | -15 |
| Martin FehérváryD · 26 · core | → -6 | +2 | -9 | -4 | +1 | 0 | -12 | 0 |
| Aliaksei ProtasC · 25 · core | ↓ -19 | -14 | -17 | -2 | -4 | -17 | +1 | +15 |
| Rasmus SandinD · 26 | ↑ +11 | +12 | +6 | -2 | -2 | +20 | -2 | 0 |
| Jordan KyrouW · 28 | → 0 | +2 | -19 | -8 | +3 | +27 | +7 | 0 |
| Justin SourdifW · 24 | → 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +15 |
| Vincent DesharnaisD · 30 | ↑ +21 | +25 | +23 | +1 | -1 | +1 | -7 | -15 |
| Dylan StromeC · 29 | ↓ -26 | -26 | -23 | -7 | -2 | -4 | +2 | 0 |
| Alex OvechkinW · 41 | ↓↓ -31 | -16 | -55 | -2 | -6 | 0 | -2 | -30 |
| Anthony BeauvillierW · 29 | ↓↓ -33 | -36 | -16 | -10 | -1 | -24 | +6 | 0 |
| Ryan LeonardW · 21 | → 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +30 |
| Boone JennerC · 33 | ↓ -10 | -15 | -5 | -6 | +6 | -2 | +2 | -30 |
| Timothy LiljegrenD · 27 | ↓ -13 | -3 | -24 | -20 | +8 | +3 | +1 | 0 |
| Ethen FrankC · 28 | → -8 | -7 | -15 | +4 | -2 | -6 | +6 | 0 |
| Pierre-Luc DuboisW · 28 | → -2 | -5 | +11 | -5 | -1 | +4 | -9 | 0 |
A player's trend compares 2025-26 with 2024-25 (PAL, WAR per 60, SC, PA, DF, SK ratings, in percentile points) and adds age. Roster Trend weights each player by ice time and importance: a rising fourth line doesn't offset a declining top center.
The Washington Capitals story
Awarded as an NHL expansion franchise in 1974, the Capitals endured a difficult start in their first seasons, debuting in 1974-75 and sharing expansion billing with the Kansas City Scouts. A turning point arrived in the 1980s when a core that included Rod Langway and Mike Gartner transformed the club into a steady playoff presence for more than a decade. The team moved from the Capital Centre to Capital One Arena in 1997, and new ownership under Ted Leonsis after 1999 reshaped the organization. Today the Capitals are a fixture of the Metropolitan Division, carrying a record of regular-season excellence that includes Presidents' Trophies in 2009–10, 2015–16 and 2016–17, and a franchise milestone: a Stanley Cup victory in 2018, won in five games over the Vegas Golden Knights after an earlier Finals appearance in 1998. The club maintains development ties with the Hershey Bears of the AHL and the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL, and continues to play its home games in Washington, D.C. A handful of figures have defined the franchise at different moments: Langway and Gartner from the defensive and veteran cores of the 1980s, and later stars such as Alexander Ovechkin and goaltender Braden Holtby, who helped deliver the club’s first Stanley Cup. The team has retired four numbers in honor of its most significant contributors.
Historical facts from Wikipedia and NHL archives; text written by PickALeague.
The franchise
- Founded
- 1974
- Stanley Cups
- 1
- First season
- 1974-75
- City
- Washington, D.C.
- Home
- Capital One Arena
- Seats
- 20,674
- Head coach
- Spencer Carbery
- Captain
- Alex Ovechkin
Stanley Cups
- 2017-18
MascotSlapshotRetired numbers
- 5Rod Langway (1982-93)
- 7Yvon Labre (1974-81)
- 11Mike Gartner (1979-89)
- 32Dale Hunter (1987-99)
Captains
- Alex Ovechkin2010-11 – Present
- Chris Clark and Alex Ovechkin2009-10
- Chris Clark2006-07 – 2008-09
- Jeff Halpern2005-06
- Steve Konowalchuk and (No Captain)2003-04
- Steve Konowalchuk2002-03
- Brendan Witt and Steve Konowalchuk2001-02
- Adam Oates1999-00 – 2000-01
- Dale Hunter1994-95 – 1998-99
- Kevin Hatcher1993-94
See all 17
- Rod Langway and Kevin Hatcher1992-93
- Rod Langway1982-83 – 1991-92
- Ryan Walter1979-80 – 1981-82
- Guy Charron1978-79
- Yvon Labre1976-77 – 1977-78
- Bill Clement and Yvon Labre1975-76
- Doug Mohns1974-75
Head coaches
- Spencer CarberyOct. 13, 2023 – Present
- Peter LavioletteJan. 14, 2021 – April 13, 2023
- Todd ReirdenOct. 3, 2018 – Aug. 20, 2020
- Barry TrotzOct. 9, 2014 – June 7, 2018
- Adam OatesJan. 19, 2013 – April 13, 2014
- Dale HunterNov. 29, 2011 – May 12, 2012
- Bruce BoudreauNov. 23, 2007 – Nov. 26, 2011
- Glen HanlonDec. 11, 2003 – Nov. 21, 2007
- Bruce CassidyOct. 11, 2002 – Dec. 8, 2003
- Ron WilsonOct. 1, 1997 – April 13, 2002
See all 20
- Jim SchoenfeldJan. 27, 1994 – April 13, 1997
- Terry MurrayJan. 16, 1990 – Jan. 25, 1994
- Bryan MurrayNov. 11, 1981 – Jan. 13, 1990
- Roger CrozierNov. 7, 1981
- Gary GreenNov. 15, 1979 – Nov. 4, 1981
- Danny BelisleOct. 11, 1978 – Nov. 13, 1979
- Tom McVieDec. 31, 1975 – April 9, 1978
- Milt SchmidtMarch 22 – Dec. 29, 1975
- Red SullivanFeb. 11 – March 20, 1975
- Jim AndersonOct. 9, 1974 – Feb. 9, 1975
Fun facts: Washington Capitals
Do the Washington Capitals play tonight?
Not today. Their next game is on November 11, 2026, at the Ottawa Senators, at 7:00 p.m..
What channel is the Washington Capitals game on?
Their next game is carried by MNMT, TSN5, RDS2.
What is the Washington Capitals record?
9-6-0, good for 18 points in 15 games, 4th in the Metropolitan division.
Who leads the Washington Capitals in scoring?
Jordan Kyrou, with 14 points (5 goals, 9 assists).
Where do the Washington Capitals play?
At Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., which seats 20,674.
Who is the Washington Capitals captain?
Alex Ovechkin wears the “C”.
Who coaches the Washington Capitals?
Spencer Carbery is the head coach.
How many Stanley Cups have the Washington Capitals won?
1, the most recent in 2017-18.
Which numbers have the Washington Capitals retired?
4 : 5 Rod Langway, 7 Yvon Labre, 11 Mike Gartner, 32 Dale Hunter.
How long have the Washington Capitals existed?
Their first season in the league was 1974-75.
Who is the Washington Capitals mascot?
Slapshot.
Who is injured on the Washington Capitals?
3 : Patrick Thomas (injured reserve, upper body), Rasmus Sandin (injured reserve, knee), Vincent Desharnais (injured reserve, abdomen).