Washington Capitals Weekly Update: March 31-April 6

It’s time for another Washington Capitals weekly update. The Washington Capitals (36-30-10, 82 Pts) needed anything but a five-game losing streak. Yet that’s what they found themselves struggling through as the end of the regular season continues to get closer. After clawing their way to a playoff spot during March, the Capitals opened a new month by losing three games in four days. With only one Wild Card playoff spot remaining, Washington is sitting behind two Metropolitan Division rivals: the Pittsburgh Penguins (36-30-11, 83 Pts) and the Philadelphia Flyers 36-31-11, 83 Pts). This was as of Sunday morning. If the Capitals’ season is to extend past next week, Washington needs a sharp turnaround. Here’s the Washington Capitals weekly update for March 31st to April 6th.

Washington Capitals Weekly Update: March 31-April 6

On-Ice Results

The Washington Capitals are still winless in April. The team hasn’t won a game in over a week; its last victory was a 4-3 overtime win against the Detroit Red Wings (37-31-8, 82 Pts). Through its three games in the new month, Washington has been outscored 14-5. The Capitals -40 full-season goal differential is the worst of any team still contending for the playoffs.

Washington opened its first game of the new month well but didn’t sustain the strong play. The Capitals jumped to a 1-0 lead in the first 10 minutes of the first period Tuesday in Buffalo. However, the Sabres took the lead by the end of the period and Washington wouldn’t lead again until two games later. The Sabres power play scored twice and four Buffalo skaters recorded three points. None of the Capitals recorded more than one point in the 4-2 loss. Martin Feherbary scored his third goal of the season and Dylan Strome extended his career-high in goals to 26.

The Capitals officially fell back out of playoff contention on Thursday after losing 4-1 to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Washington didn’t score until the third period, when it was already down 3-0. Pittsburgh took the lead in the first few minutes of play with Ryan Shea‘s first NHL goal. Pierre-Olivier Joseph and Michael Bunting added to the Penguins lead. Alex Ovechkin scored Washington’s only goal of the game on a power play. Former Capital Lars Eller added an empty-net goal for Pittsburgh.

Washington didn’t have long before its next game. The Capitals traveled to Carolina immediately after the home loss to face the second-place team in the Metropolitan Division. Washington took the lead into the first intermission thanks to Alex Ovechkin’s fifth two-goal game of the season. After the midpoint of the game, though, Carolina took control. The Hurricanes scored four unanswered goals, including two power-play goals in the third period. The second of the power-play goals put Carolina ahead by one with less than two minutes to play, on a play Coach Spencer Carbery believed shouldn’t have been a penalty. Desperate to tie, the Capitals pulled goalie Darcy Kuemper but couldn’t get back into the net. Carolina added an empty-net goal for a 4-2 win.

Injury Updates

The biggest ongoing injury concern for the Capitals is winger T.J. Oshie. Oshie missed all three of the week’s games with an upper-body injury. Washington had a day off on Saturday, so he hasn’t skated since Tuesday in Buffalo. According to Capitals team reporter Mike Vogel, it is the same injury that has been bothering him for about half of the past 20 games. Oshie was revealed to be the Capitals’ Masterton Trophy nominee for this season. He has missed 15 or more games due to injuries in each of the last four seasons.

Defender Rasmus Sandin, who missed the last game of March with a lower-body injury, returned to play against Buffalo. After goaltender Darcy Kuemper felt discomfort during Wednesday’s optional skate, the Capitals recalled Hunter Shepard from the Hershey Bears as a precaution before playing Pittsburgh. Kuemper felt well enough to back up on Thursday and started as expected on Friday in Raleigh.