The Washington Capitals are not starting off the 2024-2025 season as fans might have hoped. Though it is only preseason, two losses in a row are not reassuring for Washington supporters. So far, the Capitals have fallen to both the Philadelphia Flyers and the Boston Bruins, scoring just two goals in each of those games. They did, however, redeem themselves against the New Jersey Devils in game three of the preseason.
Game 1: Capitals vs. Flyers
The Flyers visited Capital One Arena in DC on Sunday, officially opening up the season for the team. With the day’s lineup mainly consisting of Calder Cup-winning Hershey Bears, the outcome looked promising. However, the Flyers showed up both offensively and defensively, with forwards Bobby Brink and Morgan Frost scoring two goals each and goaltender Ivan Fedotov saving 19 of 21 shots on goal. On the other end of the ice, young prospect Andrew Cristall scored in the first period, and breakout star Ivan Miroschnichenko found the net in the second. Hershey Bears goalie Hunter Shepard dressed for the Capitals, saving 22 of 28 shots on goal. It’s no surprise Philadelphia ended up winning the contest, as they dominated the ice, forcing turnovers and keeping the puck in the zone. While Washington was getting shots, the more inexperienced players on the team were not able to convert, leading to a disappointing offensive performance. With the Capitals lineup lacking NHL experience, it was likely that a matchup against more senior players like Morgan Frost, Bobby Brink, and Owen Tippett was going to be a challenge, and the game proved itself as such.
Game 2: Capitals at Bruins
The Capitals played a slightly more seasoned roster against the Bruins, with familiar names such as Pierre-Luc Dubois, Connor McMichael, and Hendrix Lapierre taking the ice. However, the team was not able to perform against Boston, falling short 4-2. Hunter Shepard started in net once again for Washington, this time stopping 18 of 22 shots on goal. On the other side, Joonas Korpisalo blocked 17 of 19 shots. Positively, young talent Andrew Cristall found the net once again, proving himself to be a valuable Capitals prospect. Power forward Connor McMichael scored the other goal for Washington after three unanswered from the Bruins. The team could not rally enough to take the lead and ultimately started their preseason 0-2.
Game 3: Capitals at Devils
The Capitals were once again on the road, this time visiting New Jersey. As a strong and veteran team took the ice, things were looking very hopeful. Dylan Strome, John Carlson, Nic Dowd, and captain Alex Ovechkin joined the lineup for the first time this preseason, bringing power, presence, and (fortunately!) offense to the game. Former Golden Knight goaltender Logan Thompson dressed in red and spectacularly made his Capitals debut, saving 24 of 27 shots on goal. Fans drew attention to his physical likeness to Braden Holtby, which could prove to be very valuable for the team if his play reflects Holtby as well.
Fan-favorite Jakub Vrana, who is on a PTO for the Capitals, had a strong game. Much to Washington fans’ delight, he found himself on the scoresheet with an assist and was skilled at possession in the offensive zone. Should the Czech winger continue to play well, he could once again find himself as a permanent member of the Capitals, especially with TJ Oshie out on LTIR now. Brandon Duhaime proved himself as a valuable pickup in his debut game, scoring twice and finding a comfortable place on his line with Nic Dowd and Taylor Raddysh. Dylan Strome also scored twice and continued to solidify his place as a mainstay in Washington. Overall, a game with more of the team’s permanent roster gave fans a positive glimpse into what the upcoming season could look like for the Capitals–dominant possession, physical play, strong defense, and high scoring.
The Washington Capitals continue their preseason play on Friday as the Columbus Blue Jackets visit them.
