Capitals' magic touch produced an unforgettable season
A budding champion engineered the greatest single-year turnaround in recent NHL memory. The Colorado Avalanche's goal differential improved from minus-112 in their unspeakable 2016-17 season to plus-20 in 2017-18. The Avs rose to respectability, followed by Stanley Cup contention.
The stunning revival of the Washington Capitals began in a different place. They were a declining Cup winner that lost dozens of blowout games yet backed into last year's postseason with a goal differential of minus-37. Those Capitals were swept in the first round, and it seemed attempts to wring the juice out of Alex Ovechkin's glorious career would help him break a famous record but fail to generate more group success.
Instead, his team got much better. The 2024-25 Capitals easily eclipsed 100 points and are coasting to first place in the Metropolitan Division and Eastern Conference. With seven games remaining, Washington's goal differential is plus-67, which translates to a year-over-year net increase of 104 goals. Only the 2018 Avalanche and 2023 New Jersey Devils authored steeper ascents since Ovechkin's debut at the outset of the salary-cap era.
The Capitals escaped mediocrity with a balanced effort. They boast none of the league's top 25 scorers and weren't represented at the 4 Nations Face-Off. Their only award favorite is head coach Spencer Carbery, the Jack Adams Award shoo-in. They benefited from a bold retool spearheaded by president of hockey operations Brian MacLellan and general manager Chris Patrick, whose magic touch reversed the club's fate.
Smart trades and surprising breakouts rejuvenated Washington and kicked Ovechkin's pursuit of Wayne Gretzky into overdrive. Capitals teammates set up their grizzled captain to bury chances at a relentless rate. Ovechkin has 39 goals this season despite suffering a broken leg and needs three more to topple Gretzky's all-time milestone of 894.
Most of his supporting cast is wrapping up a career season. Veterans, young guns, and marquee summer additions simultaneously leveled up in Ovechkin's 20th year and Carbery's second at the helm.
Unwanted by the Chicago Blackhawks three years ago, top center Dylan Strome just reached 70 points for the first time while assisting close to half (19) of Ovechkin's goals. Tom Wilson belatedly evolved into a 30-goal scorer by staying healthy, avoiding suspension, spending less time in the box, and owning the low slot. His 21 snipes from that fertile area rank in the league's 98th percentile, per NHL EDGE.
Aliaksei Protas entered the year with 53 career points, then produced massive numbers for a forward with a minimal power-play role (0:08 of ice time per game, one PP assist). The hulking Belarusian's 60 even-strength points and three shorthanded goals are team highs. Washington is 18-2-1 (.881 points percentage) when key complementary talent Connor McMichael scores and 30-6-4 (.800) when McMichael tallies a point.
Buy-low trades MacLellan swung last June and July added difference-makers in their prime to each segment of Washington's lineup. Parting with a starting goaltender, a decent defenseman, and draft capital strengthened the Capitals all over the ice.
Providing unreal value between the pipes, Logan Thompson owns sterling stats (.910 save percentage, 31-6-6 record) while accounting for less than 1% of the salary cap on a $766,667 contract. Defenseman Jakob Chychrun, a poor fit with the Ottawa Senators, has pounded pucks past goalies and helped lessen John Carlson's immense workload.
Three previous clubs soured on Pierre-Luc Dubois, but the big center has showcased the playmaking touch and defensive aptitude that explain his enduring appeal. Despite being relegated to a depth role, Andrew Mangiapane's recent three-game goal streak hinted he's the sort of opportunistic finisher who could swing a tight playoff matchup.
Meanwhile, Ovechkin's filling the net with furious efficiency. Buffalo Sabres sniper Tage Thompson is the only NHL regular with more five-on-five goals per 60 minutes (Ovi's rate is 1.54). Rather than cheapening his record chase, Ovechkin's eight empty-netters - his way of turning defense into offense - signal that his team builds and cements late leads. The Capitals are 41-4-3 when they're ahead or tied entering the third period.
Fortune favored the Capitals in this dominant season. Nicklas Backstrom and T.J. Oshie are beloved franchise legends, but placing them on LTIR freed up significant cap space. The Caps rocketed from 28th to first in NHL scoring thanks to the hottest team shooting percentage (13%) seen in the league since 1996. Even if their sticks cool in the playoffs at a terrible time, the excitement of the record chase will make the year unforgettable.
The extension of the Capitals' competitive window contrasts the downfall of the Pittsburgh Penguins. These archrivals met in the postseason every time that either Ovechkin or Sidney Crosby won the Cup. Pittsburgh bagged two more rings than Washington in Crosby's heyday but cratered in the standings despite his continued greatness and record 20th straight point-per-game season.
Barely stingier than the Blackhawks and San Jose Sharks, the Penguins hemorrhage chances as the league's No. 30 defensive team. They've suffered 23 blowout defeats (one less than last year's Caps) by at least three goals, per Stathead. Age slowed Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, and Erik Karlsson, and the long-term signings of Ryan Graves and Tristan Jarry were whiffs. Pittsburgh's trove of upcoming draft selections - 30 between 2025 and 2027 - won't help Crosby contend again.
Facing Washington in the season finale could be humbling. The April 17 matchup in Pittsburgh is the Capitals' last playoff tuneup. Besides home ice, it would be the perfect stage for Ovechkin to claim the record - and pad that lofty goal differential.
Nick Faris is a features writer at theScore.