Capitals Outsider

With his one-year extension, Alex Ovechkin is almost certainly going to enter the top ten of the NHL’s games-played list. At 1573, he currently sits in 15th place on the list. Last season, Ovi played all 82 games. This coming season, he’s projected to play fewer minutes as the Caps are stacked up and down the lineup, which is likely good for his long term health. If he plays all 82 games again this season, he’ll have 1655 games, good for eighth place, ahead of Mark Recchi.

It’s often sad when the Capitals draft a player, develop him, are patient with him, then trade him away. But enough about Scott Stevens. Today, the Caps acquired three-time 30-goal scorer Jordan Kyrou, and paid heavily, giving up Connor McMichael, Milton Gastrin and Washington’s first-round pick (16th overall) in the 2026 NHL Draft.

HERSHEY, PA - May 5th: Game 3 of the AHL Atlantic Division Semi-Finals between the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins and the Hershey Bears on May 5, 2026 at the Giant Center in Hershey, PA. (Photo: Robert Raymer) The Hershey Bears  battled back from an initial 2-0 deficit to take a 3-2 lead, but ultimately fell 4-3 in overtime in Game 3 of the Atlantic Division Semifinals to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Tuesday night at GIANT Center.

HERSHEY, PA - April 18: the AHL hockey game between the Bridgeport Islanders and the Hershey Bears on April 18, 2026 at the Giant Center in Hershey, PA. (Photo: Robert Raymer) (Photos by Robert Raymer) The Hershey Bears dropped their final regular-season meeting with the Bridgeport Islanders, 2-1, on Saturday night at GIANT Center.

Capital One Arena was packed for Sunday’s 3-0 victory against the Penguins, as fans cheered for Alex Ovechkin to play for one more year, and saluted the team in their last regular season game of the season, and most likely, their last game of the season. Ovechkin hasn’t committed to playing another season and will make his decision about the future this summer. He even declined a farewell shake-of-the-hands to the Penguins after the game, as it might not be the last time he sees them.

There’s two of them. (Photo via the Caps) On Wednesday against the Maple Leafs, Ilya and Alexei Protas played their first regular season game together in Washington, and they even earned an assist on Cole Hudson’s empty net goal in the 4-0 win. The pair is one of a few sets of brothers who have suited up for the Capitals in their history.

Photo via Sammi Silber Each year since 2015, the Capitals media vote on their favorite players to interview throughout the season. After losing last year to Tom Wilson, Dylan Strome won it this year for the third time in the past four seasons. Each eligible media member votes on three players. Sammi Silber of The Hockey News presented Strome with the award in the locker room. “You guys know I love talking to you guys,” Strome said. Dave Fay was a Washington Times reporter who covered the Capitals.

Alex Ovechkin set another personal record on Saturday with two assists in the span of 20 seconds against Buffalo, as he got the helpers on Jakob Chychrun and Dylan Strome’s first period goals. While that’s kind of neat, especially for a 40-year-old hockey player, many Caps players, Ovi included, have scored two goals in less than 20 seconds. The team record is by Stephen Leach, who did it in ten seconds in 1990, while Ovi did it 12 seconds.

Jakob Chychrun during warmups. (Caps Outsider) On his 28th birthday, Jakob Chychrun scored his 24th goal of the season Tuesday, as he put home a power play goal from the point to give the Caps a 3-2 lead in the second period. Earlier this season, Chychrun had a two-goal game the day after the birth of his first child. But the Caps lost that game and Chychrun was in no mood to talk about it.

Tom Wilson is thinking about things he can punch, probably. (Caps Ousider) It doesn’t seem that long ago when rookie Tom Wilson was getting a face-full of shaving cream from Alex Ovechkin after scoring his first career goal, but that was more than 12 years ago. That was Wilson’s 15th career regular season game, and tonight at Capital One Arena, he played his 900th.