It’s time for another Washington Capitals weekly update. The Capitals have tripled their chances of making the playoffs compared to the start of this month. The team posted a 9-5-1 record in March and claimed third place in the Metropolitan Division. However, their struggles with scoring, and preventing opponents from scoring, continue to plague them. All of Washington’s regulation losses in March were by a margin of three or more goals. The Capitals allowed seven goals twice this month. The Capitals have nine games left to secure a playoff spot and fix the remaining flaws in their gameplay. Here’s the Washington Capitals weekly update for March 24th to 30th.
Washington Capitals Update as We Head Into April
On-Ice Results
The Washington Capitals had four games this week and earned standings points in three of them. The Capitals started the week hosting the Winnipeg Jets, a team that had shut them out earlier in the month. Washington reversed the score from the previous matchup, winning 3-0. Charlie Lindgren made 27 saves to earn his fifth shutout of the season. On Tuesday, the Capitals battled the Detroit Red Wings for the last Wild Card playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Washington took a 3-2 lead when Dylan Strome scored his 24th goal of the season, but Patrick Kane tied the game with just over five minutes left. It was the second time in four days that Washington allowed a game-tying goal in the final 10 minutes of regulation. Strome finished the game in overtime to record his fifth two-goal game of the season.
The Club Continues to Struggle with Consistency
Two days later, Washington visited the Toronto Maple Leafs. Unlike the previous two games, the scoring started in the first period. Toronto had a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes and doubled it in the first 30 seconds of the middle period. The Capitals got on the board five minutes later when Nic Dowd tipped a shot from Nick Jensen. It turned out to be the only offence Washington could summon. The Capitals took only 24 shots in the game, while the Maple Leafs were credited with 48 shots and scored five goals on Lindgren. Eleven different Toronto players recorded a point. Saturday Night, the Capitals returned to Capital One Arena to play the Boston Bruins. Washington allowed the first goal for the second consecutive game and had to tie the score twice in the second period. It took a five-round shootout for the Bruins to emerge victorious. The Capitals still got a point for going beyond regulation, which put them into a tie for raw points with the Philadelphia Flyers. Washington’s greater points percentage of .562 meant the Capitals claimed third place in the Metropolitan Division, while the Flyers sit at the second Wild Card position.
Injuries & Unavailable Players Updates for the Washington Capitals
It’s another brief update on the injury front for Washington. Both the day-to-day players from last week, T.J. Oshie and Aliaksei Protas, played all four games. Winger Sonny Milano missed the two weekday games with an upper-body injury. He returned Saturday against Boston. Furthermore, defender Rasmus Sandin did not play against Boston due to a lower-body injury.
The Capitals were missing two skaters unrelated to injury this week. Tom Wilson continued to serve his six-game suspension from the week before. He still has to sit out one more game before he can return to the lineup. Ethan Bear entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program on Wednesday. Bear, who signed a two-year contract with the Capitals in late December, had not played since March 13. As each individual’s treatment is unique, there is no timetable for his return to the team.
Main photo: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
