News Category: Washington Capitals

Quick-strike Rangers aim to go up 2-0 on Capitals

Sunday, the New York Rangers struck first with a three-goal, second-period barrage in a little more than two minutes to take control and open the playoffs impressively while ignoring most attempts by the Washington Capitals to physically engage them. The Rangers did just about everything right in Game 1 and will attempt to duplicate the effort Tuesday night when they host the Capitals in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference first-round series. New York seeks

Rangers try to meet high expectations, open series with Capitals

The New York Rangers seized control of the Metropolitan Division in the opening weeks of the regular season and eventually emerged from a crowded field to claim the Presidents’ Trophy. The reward for the most successful regular season in team history raised expectations for the Rangers, who will begin their quest for a Stanley Cup on Sunday when they host the Washington Capitals in Game 1 of an Eastern Conference first-round playoff series. New York

For Capitals, win and in playoffs; for Flyers, it’s more complicated

Competition for a playoff spot comes down to the final game — or maybe beyond it — when the Washington Capitals visit the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night. By virtue of their 2-0 win against the Boston Bruins on Monday, the Capitals (39-31-11, 89 points) control their own destiny. A win against Philadelphia (38-32-11, 87 points) assures Washington the second wild card from the Eastern Conference for the Stanley Cup playoffs. Charlie Lindgren made 16

Capitals cannot afford home loss to Lightning

Time is running out for the Washington Capitals, whose weekend plans will include some scoreboard watching. The Eastern Conference’s No. 2 wild-card holder as Thursday night’s games began, the Capitals (37-31-11, 85 points) could not top the Buffalo Sabres and fell out of the final postseason spot in a 4-2 loss. They desperately need two points Saturday when the Tampa Bay Lightning come to the nation’s capital. “Especially early on, I thought we did a

Capitals try to hold onto wild-card berth going into Buffalo

The Washington Capitals continue what they hope will be a sprint to the playoffs when they visit the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night. Washington (37-30-11, 85 points) holds the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference. The Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins each have 84 points. All three teams have four games remaining and Detroit plays Pittsburgh on Thursday, guaranteeing one of them two points. If Washington wins out,

Stakes high, pressure soaring as Red Wings host Capitals

The next two games will go a long way toward deciding whether the Detroit Red Wings end their seven-season playoff drought. They are battling for the final wild-card berth in the Eastern Conference. They’ll host the Washington Capitals on Tuesday and visit the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday — two of the other teams that also are fighting for their playoff lives. Detroit (38-31-8, 84 points) collected a 3-1 home win over the Buffalo Sabres on

Capitals playing to stay in postseason hunt in game vs. Senators

The Washington Capitals will seek to apply the brakes on their five-game skid Sunday evening when they host the Ottawa Senators. Superstar captain Alex Ovechkin continued his goal-scoring binge by tallying twice in the first period on Friday, but the Capitals (36-30-10, 82 points) surrendered four unanswered goals in a 4-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. Washington, which is 0-4-1 in its past five games, resides one point behind the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers

Caps, out of playoff spot, aim to rebound vs. Hurricanes

Coming up short in four consecutive games has put the Washington Capitals on the outside of a playoff position. The Capitals have an opportunity to improve their standing when they face the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday in Raleigh, N.C. Following a 4-1 home loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday, the Capitals are in a 0-3-1 swoon that has them one point behind the Philadelphia Flyers for third place in the Metropolitan Division and one

Capitals hope to build off OT loss, take on Sabres

The Washington Capitals will try to resume their playoff push when they visit the Buffalo Sabres Tuesday night. The Capitals (36-27-10, 82 points) are among a group of teams competing for the final two playoff spots in the Eastern Conference: third place in the Metropolitan Division and the second wild-card spot. Washington, 6-3-1 in its past 10 outings, has games in hand over most of the group but games remaining against Eastern powers Carolina, Tampa

Playoff-bound Bruins trying to improve, visit Capitals

The Boston Bruins clinched an eighth consecutive trip to the Stanley Cup Playoffs while sitting idle on Thursday. When the Bruins (42-17-15, 99 points) return to the ice for a Saturday road bout against the Washington Capitals, it will be all about getting back to business and continuing to build toward their top game. The results were split during the Florida portion of an ongoing six-game road trip. Boston, which has lost three of four,