Washington Capitals — Stats, Schedule & Insights

Team Snapshot

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Key Insight

Washington's playoff push is built on elite defensive structure (10th in GA) and Logan Thompson's .912 save percentage, but a bottom-five power play (24th, 17.8%) is actively costing points in tight games. The four-game win streak masks offensive regression: scoring has dropped 1.3 goals per game from season average, creating vulnerability against teams that can neutralize 5v5 play. With 95 points and a positive goal differential, the Capitals are playoff-bound, but special teams inefficiency remains the primary threat to postseason advancement.

Strengths

Top-10 defensive structure (10th in GA, 2.98 per game) paired with a functional penalty kill (13th, 80.1%) creates a foundation to win one-goal games—critical in playoff formats where margins compress.

Third-period scoring dominance (102 goals, highest of any period) demonstrates late-game execution and conditioning, allowing Washington to close tight contests and protect leads.

Home ice advantage is pronounced: 25–11–5 at home versus 18–19–4 on the road, a seven-win gap that makes playoff seeding and home-ice positioning disproportionately valuable.

Four-game win streak with tightened defense (2.4 GA last five games) shows the team is peaking at the right time, entering the playoffs with momentum and structural discipline.

Risks

Bottom-five power play (24th, 17.8%) is the single largest drag on offensive output—43 goals across 241 opportunities represents a failure to capitalize on opponent mistakes, costing roughly 10–12 goals compared to league-average conversion and potentially 4–6 standings points.

Scoring trend regression of 1.3 goals per game signals offensive depth issues: the recent win streak is masking declining production, creating exposure against playoff teams that can limit 5v5 chances and force reliance on special teams.

Road record instability (18–19–4) is a seven-win deficit compared to home performance, raising concerns about adaptability and composure in hostile environments—a critical weakness in playoff series where at least two games are played away.

Goaltending sits in the middle tier (.912 save percentage)—Thompson is reliable but not elite, meaning Washington cannot afford defensive lapses or expect stolen games against top-tier offenses in a seven-game series.

Last 5 Record

4W–1L

Avg Scored (L5)

3.2↓1.3 vs prev 5

Avg Conceded (L5)

2.4

The Capitals have won four straight, scoring 3.2 goals per game and conceding 2.4 over that span. Despite the win streak, the 1.3-goal scoring decline from season average indicates offensive output is narrowing, not expanding. The recent defensive tightening (2.4 GA vs. 2.98 season average) is driving results more than offensive surge, projecting a low-scoring, defense-first identity into the postseason.

Core Analytics

Core Performance

Offence

Washington ranks 14th in goals per game (3.21) but relies almost entirely on 5v5 production—the power play converts at just 17.8%, 24th in the league, generating only 43 goals across 241 opportunities. Third-period scoring (102 goals) significantly outpaces the first two periods combined (155 goals), indicating the team plays into form late rather than dictating pace early. The current scoring trend shows a 1.3 goal-per-game decline, raising questions about offensive sustainability entering the playoffs despite the recent win streak.

3.21Avg 3.08

14th in NHL

Defence

The Capitals rank 10th in goals against (2.98 per game) with balanced period-by-period suppression: first period (62 GA), second (84 GA), third (89 GA). The penalty kill operates at 80.1% (13th), allowing 50 goals against across 251 opportunities—functional but not elite. Over the last five games, defensive performance has sharpened to 2.4 goals conceded per game, suggesting the team is tightening structure heading into the playoff race.

2.98Avg 3.08

7th in NHL

Special Teams

Top Players

Alex Ovechkin

Left Wing · #

PTS

Tom Wilson

Right Wing · #

PTS

Goals Scored — Last 10 Games

Scoring has dropped noticeably over the last 5 games — a 1.3 goal/game decline vs the previous 5 aligns with the recent dip in results.

Goals For

Goals Against

2–1

CBJ

Apr 14

3–0

PIT

Apr 12

6–3

PIT

Apr 11

Pattern: 4 wins from the last 5 games — Capitals are in excellent form and look dangerous heading into the next fixtures.