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Evan Doerfler

evandoerfler@TheHN

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Evan Doerfler is a writer for The Hockey News - Toronto.

Joined at May 22, 2024

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Sammi Silber·2d·Partner

Capitals Officially On Ryan Leonard Watch, Boston College Eliminated From NCAA Tournament

The Washington Capitals are officially on Ryan Leonard watch. Leonard's sophomore season with Boston College officially came to an end on Sunday, as the Eagles fell to the Denver Pioneers, 3-1, in the regional final. It was a repeat of last year's crushing loss to Denver in the title game, but there are different implications this time around as B.C. sees an earlier exit and Leonard more likely pro-bound. The 19-year-old appears to be ready to make the full-time NHL jump, and now that his season is over, he can officially sign his entry-level contract. The plan for general manager Chris Patrick, who planned around his pending arrival at the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline, was to reach out and start talking with his camp when his season ended, and he could arrive in D.C. sooner rather than later. Leonard, who was taken eighth overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, finished his sophomore year with an NCAA-leading 30 goals and 19 assists for 49 points in 36 games, while earning Hobey Baker consideration and making headlines with his grit, speed and scoring prowess. Having Leonard join the mix would be a major addition for the Capitals, who have lost three straight games and are looking to find their consistency again with nine games to go in the regular season and a long Stanley Cup Playoff run within the realm of possibility. When it comes to where he would slot into the lineup, Leonard could start on the bottom-6 and work his way up, but he may also have to wait for his opportunity with the Capitals also planning to play Ethen Frank down the stretch and having to figure out which veterans would take a seat over Leonard. Regardless, joining the pro ranks will be a major plus for the up-and-comer, who has been compared to Tom Wilson, T.J. Oshie and other top names and has shown what he can do.

Sammi Silber·3d·Partner

Capitals In Midst Of Locker Room Prank War: 'It Doesn't Matter Who You Are, No One's Safe'

ARLINGTON, V.A. — Before Brandon Duhaime went to sit down in his stall, he noticed that his seat cushion was soaked in water. He stalked off to get a towel, and then cleaned up the mess before quickly pointing out the culprit. "Matt Roy," he called out. Duhaime is the latest Capitals player to fall into the latest locker room antics, which include an all-out prank war. Though the 27-year-old is one of the more humorous characters in the room, he wouldn't take credit for starting things on Saturday. "No, no, I got roped in," Duhaime said. "I don't even know what today was about. I think Matt Roy's upset about something... he said he spilled it, but it just seems a little targeted to me." While Duhaime's innocent on Saturday's front, Tom Wilson said that he's behind quite a few of the antics. "He keeps everybody on their toes," Wilson laughed. Wilson wouldn't dive into specifics — "I'm not snitching," he insisted with a grin — though he did say that he's often a target of Duhaime's antics. How come? "He's an easy target," Duhaime said. "It snowballs on the things you can attack him for. It's fun to poke him a little bit. Not too far, you don't want him seeing red, but it's fun to get on him." Besides Duhaime, Aliaksei Protas and Logan Thompson have also played their share of jokes on their teammates, with Protas appearing to be the one who taped Andrew Mangiapane's hat near the ceiling. As for Thompson, he's hidden his share of hockey sticks from Taylor Raddysh. Still, it's all in good fun and just another way the tight-knit group stays connected. "It doesn't matter who you are, no one's safe," Wilson said with a smile.

Sammi Silber·4d·Partner

Capitals Prospect Report: Hutson & Leonard Shine To Start NCAA Tourney, What's Next For Chesley, Protas Surges In Game 1

The Washington Capitals are watching a handful of their top prospects as the playoffs get underway in multiple leagues — and they haven't disappointed. First, both Cole Hutson and Ryan Leonard shined in their respective playoff-opening games for Boston University and Boston College in the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Hutson put on a show in the No. 8 Terriers' opening game of the tournament against No. 9 Ohio State, putting up a goal and three assists en route to an 8-3 win over the Buckeyes on Thursday. Boston University advanced to the NCAA Regional Final, where it will face the No. 16 Cornell Big Red, which stunned Capitals prospect David Gucciardi and No. 1 Michigan State in the final seconds of regulation. Hutson has been a force to be reckoned with at both ends of the ice, but it's his puck-moving ability, smooth skating and finesse that makes him stand out the most. Washington traded Beck Malenstyn to the Buffalo Sabres in order to trade up in the second round of the 2024 NHL Draft for the 18-year-old blueliner. Meanwhile, Leonard picked up his NCAA-leading 30th goal of the season, a game-clinching empty-net goal, in No. 1 Boston College's 3-1 win over No. 4 Bentley on Friday. He is the first player since Cam Atkinson in 2011 to post back-to-back 30-goal seasons at the NCAA level. Leonard is expected to sign his entry-level contract and make the jump to Washington after his run with the Eagles comes to an end, which will provide D.C. with a major boost come playoff time thanks to Leonard's goal-scoring prowess, grit and speed. BC will face either Denver or Providence in the next round. The Capitals are also waiting to see what's next for Ryan Chesley, whose season ended with the Minnesota Golden Gophers seeing an early first-round exit at the hands of the UMass Minutemen. Chesley was the subject of a controversial non-call, as he was tripped up in overtime while carrying the puck, which led to a turnover and the subsequent OT winner. In addition to NCAA action, the OHL playoffs are underway, and Ilya Protas has continued to surge. The younger brother of Capitals star Aliaksei Protas had four assists in the Windsor Spitfires' 7-2 victory over the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in Game 1 of the OHL playoffs. Protas finished his regular season as one of the CHL's top players, putting up 124 points in just 61 games.

Sammi Silber·1d·Partner

BREAKING: Capitals Sign Ryan Leonard To Entry-Level Contract, NHL Debut Likely vs. Boston

It's official: Ryan Leonard is a Washington Capital. The Capitals signed Leonard to a three-year, entry-level contract on Monday, general manager Chris Patrick announced. His deal carries an average annual value of $950,000, and he appears set to make his NHL debut on Tuesday against the Boston Bruins. Leonard just finished his sophomore season at Boston College, scoring an NCAA-leading 30 goals through 37 games. The Eagles were eliminated by the Denver Pioneers in the regional final of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday. He finished his collegiate playing career with 109 points (61 goals, 48 assists) through 78 games. Washington selected Leonard eighth overall in the 2023 NHL Draft. The 19-year-old is known for his speed, scoring prowess and grit, and has been compared to the likes of T.J. Oshie and Tom Wilson, among others. Leonard should provide a major boost to Washington's forward depth heading into the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Right now, it's unclear where he'll slot in to start his NHL career, though he's expected to make quite a bit of noise.

Sammi Silber·5d·Partner

What The McIlrath Extension Means For The Capitals, Alexeyev

The Washington Capitals started their Thursday off with more outstanding business, inking defenseman Dylan McIlrath to a two-year, $1.6 million extension. It's a one-way deal that pays the rearguard an AAV of $800,000. McIlrath made the full-time jump to the NHL this season with Washington, appearing in 11 games and picking up two assists while spending most of the time as the team's seventh defenseman. Prior to this season, the 32-year-old captained the Hershey Bears to back-to-back Calder Cup championships in 2023 and 2024. He has been in the Capitals organization since 2021. The 6-foot-5, 240-pound blueliner is not only a physical, capable defenseman who provides depth, but he is one of the veteran leaders in the locker room. He plays a similar role as Matt Irwin, who was the team's seventh defensemen back during Peter Laviolette's tenure. Though McIlrath doesn't play a lot, he knows his role and enjoys it, and he's happy to do what he can to provide whatever the organization asks of him. "It's just the situation; I'm at peace with it. It doesn't make it easy, but it's something that I know I just got to focus on myself. I've been at it long enough to be a pro, and I know I got to be ready when my time (comes)," McIlrath said, adding, "So (I'm) really taking advantage of a full team practice and making sure I'm keeping that pace as the other guys and treating it as if it were a game." With McIlrath signed now and the team having all six of its regular defensemen under contract through next season, it appears this could be the end of the road for Alex Alexeyev, who becomes an unrestricted free agent in July. Alexeyev has appeared in just five regular season games. He was a first-round pick in 2018, and though he's shown that he can play in the big leagues, he hasn't solidified himself as a regular defenseman in the lineup for D.C. That said, the 25-year-old, who still has plenty of upside, could look to sign elsewhere this offseason and go to a team where he can get consistent playing time rather than being a healthy scratch.

Sammi Silber·2d·Partner

Carbery Explains Ovechkin's Lack Of Playing Time Through First Two Periods vs. Sabres, Demands More From Top-6

WASHINGTON — Despite Alex Ovechkin moving within five goals of Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record, coach Spencer Carbery said that the Washington Capitals need to see a lot more from the top-6 going forward. Ovechkin got just 10 shifts through the first 40 minutes of Sunday's 8-5 loss to the Buffalo Sabres, skating a team-low 7:43 minutes over that span, including under three minutes overall in the second. Carbery explained it was the result of numerous defensive zone starts and the team having to kill penalties, while also saying that Ovechkin's line needed a change after a lackluster start. The Capitals captain picked it up in the third period after he moved to a line with Pierre-Luc Dubois, scoring his 890th career goal while ending the night with three points. He ultimately finished the night with 16:55 minutes of ice time. However, the Capitals bench boss said that the team needs more from its top two lines amid a three-game losing skid. "We were fighting to stay in that game. I didn't like any of our top-6 again tonight, those two lines over the last two games, we've been okay, but no production from them," Carbery said. "They get the late goal in Winnipeg, but it just hasn't looked great. Their underlying numbers haven't been great the last two games from our top-6." Washington will be back in action on Tuesday against the Boston Bruins and could see a new-look lineup with nine games to go and Ethen Frank drawing back in down the stretch, as well as the potential addition of Ryan Leonard. That said, Carbery wants to see D.C. return to its identity, especially with the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs right around the corner. "We get what we deserve tonight. I don't know if it's a mental block with our group, there's just something that when they see a team like this, they want to play their style of game and it goes south on us," Carbery said. "That's not who we are, and it's disappointing."

Sammi Silber·5d·Partner

GOTTA SEE IT: Alex Ovechkin Has Classy Final Gesture For Marc-Andre Fleury, Calls Capitals Back From Room To Shake Hands

As the Washington Capitals made their way down the tunnel to the dressing room at Xcel Energy Center, wanting to put a 4-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild behind them quickly, captain Alex Ovechkin frantically sprinted over and called his teammates back to the ice. Because for Ovechkin, it was important for each and every one of the Capitals to line up and shake Marc-Andre Fleury's hand in what is likely the last time that the goaltender will face the team in his historic career as he's set to retire at the end of the season. Ovechkin and Fleury hugged and shared words before the rest of Washington's roster followed suit. It's been a 20-year rivalry between Ovechkin and Fleury, two respective first-overall picks who are arguably the best in their respective positions. From Washington's early rivalry days with the Pittsburgh Penguins to Ovechkin's Capitals finally besting Fleury and the Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup in 2018 to their final meeting earlier this season where Ovechkin scored and they exchanged sticks postgame, there have been all kinds of memories between the two over the years. "He's one of the best goalies to ever play," Ovechkin said of Fleury pregame, adding, "I hope he's going to sign one more year. It was a pretty good battle out there between me and him." Ovechkin faced Fleury a total of 47 times, the most he's played any goalie, scoring 28 goals — also the most he's had on a single netminder.

Sammi Silber·22h·Partner

Capitals Notebook: Where Ryan Leonard Will Draw In For Debut, McIlrath Replaces Roy

The Washington Capitals will see a special NHL debut in Boston, as Ryan Leonard is set to play in his first game against his hometown Bruins on Tuesday. Leonard signed his entry-level contract on Monday after his NCAA career came to an end over the weekend. The 19-year-old led all collegiate skaters with 30 goals through 37 games. Coach Spencer Carbery told reporters that Leonard will play on the second line with Dylan Strome and Aliaksei Protas, and Taylor Raddysh will draw out of the lineup in order for Leonard to slot in. Alex Ovechkin, meanwhile, will play with Pierre-Luc Dubois. Here are the projected combinations: Alex Ovechkin-Pierre-Luc Dubois-Tom Wilson Aliaksei Protas-Dylan Strome-Ryan Leonard Andrew Mangiapane-Lars Eller-Connor McMichael Brandon Duhaime-Nic Dowd-Anthony Beauvillier Rasmus Sandin-John Carlson Jakob Chychrun-Trevor van Riemsdyk Martin Fehervary-Dylan McIlrath Charlie Lindgren Logan Thompson The 19-year-old met up with the team on Monday, going out to dinner with Ovechkin and the rest of the group in order to get situated. In addition to Leonard, Washington will also make a lineup change on the backend; Matt Roy is not on the trip due to family reasons, so Dylan McIlrath will draw back in on defense. It will be his first game since Dec. 23. Charlie Lindgren gets the start in net. Puck drop is at 7 p.m. at TD Garden.

Sammi Silber·3d·Partner

Capitals Notebook: Carbery Hopes Power Play Tweak Ignites Spark, Lineup Changing Down Stretch

ARLINGTON, V.A. — After a day off following a less-than-ideal road trip up north, the Washington Capitals got back to work with a busy practice on Saturday, one where they engaged in quite a few battle drills and evaluated a change to their power play. Tom Wilson, Dylan Strome, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Alex Ovechkin and John Carlson continue to make up that first unit, but on the second unit, Rasmus Sandin and Jakob Chychrun are the two defensemen, while Ovechkin takes Taylor Raddysh's place up front. Andrew Mangiapane and Connor McMichael round out that group. For coach Spencer Carbery, it's a tweak that the man advantage, which has gone 0-for-18 over the last 10 games, needs. “When you have 2 D on that second unit it lets the second unit continue to attack even as that power play expires," Carbery said, adding, "(Another benefit is) getting Chychrun on his one-timer flank; that's something we have used on that past. We want to keep him handling pucks over there, shooting it from over there and continue to have that in our back pocket of him being really, really comfortable on that half wall." The power play saw more movement against the Minnesota Wild, but there's still room for improvement and the team needs to start figuring out ways to convert with power-play goals able to make or break a game come playoff time. "I mean, there’s a lot that goes into it. Finishing is one of the parts of the power play, for sure, but there’s a lot that goes into creating those opportunities," As long as you’re generating a high amount of quality looks whether they’re going in or not… you’re going to be a top-5 power play," Carbery said, adding, "It's all about the process, not the finish. Okay, so how do you generate more looks? O-zone time, entries, secondary chances; there’s all sorts of stuff that goes into it.” The Capitals could also start to see some lineup changes with 10 games remaining in the regular season and D.C. having already clinched a playoff berth and home ice. Washington returns to action at home with a Sunday matinee against the Buffalo Sabres, where one of the regular healthy scratches in Alex Alexeyev, Dylan McIlrath or Ethen Frank could slot back into the mix. "We should see some guys (getting) into the lineup," Carbery said.

Sammi Silber·1d·Partner

Capitals Notebook: Ryan Leonard Expected To Sign, Team Ponders Changes To Top-6

ARLINGTON, V.A. — After Boston College was eliminated at the hands of Denver on Sunday, Washington Capitals coach Spencer Carbery reached out to prospect Ryan Leonard, letting him know he was impressed with what was yet another successful NCAA season. It was a "quick exchange," but one that the coach felt was important as the 20-year-old appears set to make the NHL jump. "I'm proud of him, of the season that he’s had but also the way he’s conducted himself," Carbery said. "The year that he’s had with the world juniors and another really strong season for him at B.C. Anytime you don’t win the last game, it’s a tough feeling, especially having played college hockey. You put a lot into that, and those one-and-done scenarios are tough. So, just there for him and we’ll see where it goes." Per multiple sources, Leonard is expected to sign with Washington at some point on Monday and could make his NHL debut in his hometown of Boston on Tuesday when the Capitals visit the Bruins. As the Capitals head up north, they are also pondering lineup changes, as Carbery again expressed concerns surrounding the top-6's play and chemistry of late. Anthony Beauvillier was promoted to the top line with Pierre-Luc Dubois and Alex Ovechkin back on Sunday, and though Carbery liked what that trio could do, he'll take a look at other potential combinations going into Tuesday. "We're asking our top six to do a little bit more... I'm moving things around," Carbery said. "Just feel like the chemistry there's been a little bit off, so we'll try to find some combinations that we feel good about."

Sammi Silber·18h·Partner

Ryan Leonard Talks Overnight Jump To Capitals, Debut & Hanging With Alex Ovechkin: 'Not Something You Can Put Into Words'

Ryan Leonard's last 48 hours are enough to give someone whiplash. On Sunday, he and his teammates at Boston College were playing in the regional final, where they saw their season come to a disappointing end at the hands of Denver. Then, on Monday, he woke up in his dorm room, and business unfolded, as he was faxed over papers for his entry-level contract with the Washington Capitals. As he went to clean out his locker stall and put pen to paper, his phone buzzed: a text from Alex Ovechkin came up, as Washington was en route to Boston for a Tuesday meeting with the Boston Bruins. "He asked if I wanted to get sushi once they landed," Leonard said. "I read it in the locker room.... (my teammates were) like 'What? I'm not sure if you should respond to it.' And I was like, 'I kinda have to.'" Later that night, Ovechkin and the team met Leonard at the Circle, a bar in Boston, where the group listened to "Bandz A Make Her Dance" and shared some food, drinks and words of wisdom. "Just to go to dinner with those guys and meet all those guys I'm really just trying to embrace the moment and spend quality time with those guys," Leonard said. "It's not often you get to go to dinner with one of the greats." Then, Tuesday morning hit. Leonard made his way to TD Garden and had his first NHL morning skate with the Capitals. There, he swapped sticks with Ovechkin — who took a dislike to his lower flex — and got to know his teammates a bit more. He also learned he'd be playing on the top-6 and making his NHL debut against the Bruins in his hometown. "A dream come true... Just thinking about being here at BC and then turning the page and being a pro, it's pretty weird to think about, but it's pretty cool," Leonard said. The nerves are building a bit for the 20-year-old as he plays his first NHL game in front of family, friends and BC teammates, but he's taking things one step at a time and just trying to keep things simple. "This is the only debut I'll have, it's pretty cool. Not really something you can put into words when something you really dream about comes true," Leonard said. "Just trying to go out there and have fun."

Sammi Silber·2d·Partner

Capitals Sign Gucciardi To Entry-Level Contract, Will Also Sign Chesley

ARLINGTON, V.A. — The Washington Capitals have signed defenseman David Gucciardi to a two-year, entry-level contract and plan to sign Ryan Chesley to a three-year, entry-level deal, the team announced on Monday. Gucciardi's contract starts next season and carries an AAV of $855,000 at the NHL level and $82,500 at the AHL level. He is expected to sign an amateur tryout with the Hershey Bears this season and begin his pro career in the minors, as is Chesley. The 22-year-old defenseman just finished his NCAA career with Michigan State. In 37 games in his senior season, he recorded a career-high six goals, 10 assists, 16 points, 88 shots and plus/minus rating of plus-21. Gucciardi helped the Spartans secure a consecutive Big Ten Conference Tournament title. Gucciardi recorded career highs in goals (6), assists (10), points (16), plus-minus (+21) and shots (88) in 37 games with Michigan State (NCAA) this season. The fourth-year senior ranked second on the Spartans in plus-minus, third in blocked shots (39) and tied for first among the team’s defensemen in goals. The 6’1”, 200-pound defenseman helped Michigan State claim its second straight Big Ten Conference Tournament title and earn its second consecutive NCAA Tournament bid. Washington selected Gucciardi in the seventh round (No. 213) of the 2022 NHL Draft. Chesley, who was taken in the second round (No. 37) in the 2022 NHL Draft, just finished his NCAA tenure with the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

Sammi Silber·5d·Partner

Ovechkin Talks Being Asked Constantly About The Record & Evolving His Game Over Time

As Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin inches closer to breaking Wayne Gretzky's all-time NHL goals record, it's a consistent subject matter brought up in interviews, as he's brought out day after day to discuss the "GR8 Chase." And for him, it's grown a bit tedious answering the same questions regarding the record, but he took the time to joke about it when chatting with reporters in Minnesota on Thursday. "How many years, it's been like, two years already, right?" Ovechkin said when asked how long he's been tired of talking about the record. "Two years. But you just get used to it." Ovechkin sits at 889 career goals and is on a five-game point streak (three goals, four assists) entering Thursday's contest against the Minnesota Wild. While he's still finding ways to put the puck in the net, the 39-year-old has also been showcasing his playmaking ability and playing a versatile role of late, and for Ovechkin, it's just part of how he's evolved his game over the years. "When you get older, you try to not run around, you know?" Ovechkin said. "Try to find the right spot and obviously, it's five players out there right? Everybody have to be on the page, everybody have to do their job and obviously someone have to score." That said, he's still the same Ovechkin, throwing his weight around as a "wake up call" and firing pucks nonstop at the net. "Everything have to work out well," Ovechkin said of his game.

Sammi Silber·14h·Partner

Takeaways: Leonard Brings Boom In NHL Debut, Capitals Edge Bruins To Snap Skid

It was a busy night in Beantown for the Washington Capitals; not only were they trying to snap a three-game losing streak, but they were also welcoming Ryan Leonard to the mix. And ultimately, D.C. made the most of its Tuesday up north. Alex Ovechkin continued his pursuit of history, Dylan Strome had a multi-point outing and Leonard made the most of his debut in a 4-3 win over the Bruins. Here are all the takeaways from the victory. Capitals Start Strong, Ovechkin Hits 891 Washington played more to its identity to kick things off against the Bruins, with the offense humming and the team making smart plays all around. Nic Dowd got things started with the Capitals' second shorthanded goals in as many games, thanks to a strong play from Brandon Duhaime. It would set the tone for D.C., who then went on to score on a subsequent power-play chance. Alex Ovechkin got to the front of the crease on the power play and buried a feed from Dylan Strome to make it a 2-0 game with his 891st career NHL goal. He is now four away from breaking Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record, and he has goals in back-to-back games. Strome Helps Capitals Recover From Lack Of Discipline & Consistency; D.C. Survives Late Rally Though Washington got off to a promising start in Beantown, it wasn't sustainable, as the team came out a bit flat in the second, which proved costly. First, a bad turnover in front came back to bite the team as Vinni Lettieri swept home the loose puck to cut the score in half. Then, some undisciplined play down the stretch led to a power-play opportunity and subsequent David Pastrnak goal, tying the game up. Boston was able to tilt the ice in the middle frame, but the Capitals would recover in the third, with Dylan Strome getting to the front of the net and burning a rebound off a wide shot from Aliaksei Protas. Strome is now at 72 points on the season, and Protas has points in seven of his last eight games. Meanwhile, Ryan Leonard was also on the ice for that goal, and played a key role in it despite not getting on the scoresheet. Later in the frame, Tom Wilson added some insurance, as his pass to Trevor van Riemsdyk on an odd-man rush went off of a defender in front and past Jeremy Swayman to restore the two-goal lead. It marked Wilson's 32nd goal of the season. Right after, though, D.C. had to step up defensively, with Pastrnak pulling his team back within one. Washington put up a strong showing in its own end, and Charlie Lindgren came up big to secure the two points. Leonard Brings Boom With Solid NHL Debut The Capitals didn't set any expectations for Ryan Leonard in his NHL debut, just telling the forward not to overthink, to play his own game and not worry about systems or making mistakes. He did just that, and then some, not holding back in front of family and friends in his hometown. The 20-year-old was moving his feet and skating well, making smart plays at both ends of the ice in order to put his team in a good spot. Leonard logged 14:14 minutes in his debut, leading the team with three hits and posting a plus/minus rating of plus-1.

Sammi Silber·18h·Partner

What The Capitals Want To See From Leonard In NHL Debut, Expectations vs. Bruins

As Ryan Leonard will make his long-awaited debut for the Washington Capitals on Tuesday in fitting fashion against his hometown Boston Bruins, the expectations for him truly, aren't all that much. Coach Spencer Carbery said that ultimately, he's not focused on the final stat line or systems knowledge from the 20-year-old; he just wants him to embrace that moment. "There's not a lot of expectations other than go out there and compete your butt off and don't worry, don't overthink, don't feel like you're not in the right spot or, 'Did I understand the systems correctly?'" Carbery said. "Go out there ad compete your butt off and show your skill set. He's shown a lot over the last couple years. He's a great player, he has good pace to his game. So go use his individual attributes that he has and go have fun. You have one opportunity to play your first NHL game... enjoy the moment." Leonard will get a major opportunity in his debut, slotting in immediately on the top-6. He'll skate with Dylan Strome and Aliaksei Protas on the second line, a spot captain Alex Ovechkin has grown used to this season. Ovechkin, who will skate with Pierre-Luc Dubois as Carbery tries to spark the top-6, said that he told Leonard to just be himself. "Just play your game; don't try too much," Ovechkin said. "Pretty sure it's gonna be lots of energy, probably he's gonna be nervous but I'm pretty sure he's gonna be fine." Leonard said his brother John, who plays professional hockey, told him to "embrace the moment," and the plan is to take things one step at a time and just make the most of his debut. "It's just crazy that this is actually happening... 100 percent (ready)," Leonard said. "So excited to go out there This is the next page in my book, so hopefully it starts good tonight." Puck drop is at 7 p.m. at TD Garden as the Capitals look to end a three-game losing streak.

Sammi Silber·6d·Partner

What's Going On With The Capitals' Power Play, & What's The Fix?

Going down the stretch, the Washington Capitals are still finding ways to get the job done, but they know there are key areas that still need fixing. None looms larger right now, it seems, than the power play. Washington's man advantage has taken a significant step back of late, failing to convert over the last nine games and going 0-for-16 over that span. And ultimately, the lack of success there has proven costly in games where a goal or two would go a long way. Coach Spencer Carbery pointed to Tuesday's 3-2 overtime loss to the Winnipeg Jets, a showdown with implications of what could be a potential Stanley Cup Final matchup that saw the Capitals go 0-for-2. "Power plays are a great example in that game. What do we get, two right? Come playoff time you might get one or two, and every puck touch on that power play is going to be important and it's going to be significant," Carbery said. It could be the difference in the game, could be the difference in a series. That's how you have to approach those in those types of games." But what exactly isn't working on the man advantage? First, the entries are off. Washington is failing to get into the zone cleanly, leading to turnovers or immediate clears and retreats back into the defensive zone. Then, there's a lack of tape-to-tape passing and execution that is leading to failed opportunities, missed chances and a lack of set plays. "We're a little bit sloppy with some of those touches. We turn it over five or six times on the power play, that might be all you get (in the playoffs)," Carbery added. For Dylan Strome, the struggles on the power play could also be attributed to the routine ebbs and flows teams go through in a season. "I think that the chances have gone down. Power plays are a big part of the game, and a big part of getting the ball rolling," Strome said. He also believes this recent lull could be a silver lining, but noted that the breakouts and entries have to get cleaned up. "Maybe it's nice to go through this little lull right now and find a way to pick it back up coming down the stretch here... sometimes you do all the right things and the shots don't go in," Strome said, adding, "I feel like we've had decent chances to set up and stuff, and just pucks haven't been going in right now." The Capitals will get their chance at redemption on Thursday when they take on the Minnesota Wild.

Sammi Silber·2d·Partner

Takeaways: Ovechkin Hits 890, But Capitals Fall In Ugly Loss To Sabres

WASHINGTON — The Washington Capitals returned home wanting to quickly move on from a two-game slide on the road, but they brought some bad habits back with them that proved costly in what turned out to be an ugly loss against the Buffalo Sabres. Alex Ovechkin continued his GR8 Chase, Jakob Chychrun scored twice and Aliaksei Protas had a shorthanded goal, but Washington's lack of discipline resulted in an ugly 8-5 loss to the Sabres. Here are all the takeaways as D.C. dropped its third straight contest: Lack Of Discipline Proves Costly, Defense Struggles In Sloppy Loss It wasn't a pretty night for the Capitals, who struggled defensively and couldn't hold off the Sabres' young offense. Tage Thompson struck twice on the power play, as Pierre-Luc Dubois and Washington failed to stay disciplined and took a total of five penalties. Though Jakob Chychrun had tied it in the second period, Buffalo quickly took back the lead and never looked back, and appeared to always have a response at the ready. Logan Thompson didn't have his strongest showing, surrendering seven goals on 22 shots, but the defense in front of him left a lot to be desired to boot. Alex Ovechkin Continues GR8 Chase After appearing to be benched in the second period, Alex Ovechkin came back with a vengeance, deflecting home his 890th career goal to give the Capitals some life in the third period and move within five of breaking Wayne Gretzky's all-time record. Ovechkin got to the front of the net and deflected Rasmus Sandin's shot past James Reimer to pull his team within two and spark some life into D.C. He now has 37 goals on the season, the fifth-most in the NHL despite missing 16 games due to a broken fibula. The 39-year-old also picked up two assists and has scored three goals in his last seven games. Chychrun Hits 20, Protas Gets 30 Jakob Chychrun and Aliaskei Protas also hit some impressive milestones in the loss, with Chychrun scoring two to hit the 20-goal mark for the first time in his career and Protas scoring shorthanded to hit 30 goals.

Sammi Silber·5d·Partner

Takeaways: Capitials Come Up Short, Special Teams Costly In Loss To Wild

The Washington Capitals were in for another tough playoff-esque matchup out West as they took on the Minnesota Wild, and though they fought, it wasn't enough. Washington had control early but stepped off the gas and failed to solve Gustafsson late in a 4-2 loss. Here are all the takeaways from the team's second consecutive defeat. Late Rally Comes Up Short, Capitals Lose Control Of Game Early on, Washington had control of the game, and then things took a turn in the second period when Minnesota went up 3-2. From there, the Capitals battled and rallied to try and force overtime in the third, but it wasn't enough. Despite chances for Alex Ovechkin and more, Washington couldn't solve Gustavsson after getting two past him early, and Frederick Gaudreau ended any comeback bid late in regulation with an empty-net goal. Special Teams Costly The Capitals had a couple of power-play opportunities that could have turned the tide, and though there was more movement on these attempts, it wasn't enough to find twine as the man advantage was held off the board for the 10th straight game, going 0-for-18 over that span. Washington's strong penalty-killing streak also came to an end, as Frederick Gaudreau deflected a point feed from Matt Boldy past Charlie Lindgren to even the score for the Wild, and in turn, tilt the ice. Prior to Thursday, the Capitals hadn't allowed a pPG in five straight games. Ultimately, Boldy would come back at the end of the second to give D.C. the lead Bottom-6 Provides Offense The Capitals got their offense from the bottom-6 on Thursday, as the third and fourth lines stepped up early to get Washington in on the action. After going down 1-0 early, Matt Roy got the puck and fired one home through a perfect screen from Andrew Mangiapane to even the score. Taylor Raddysh picked up the primary helper, which marked the 100th point of his NHL career, and Lars Eller also got a helper. Meanwhile, Roy now has points in three of his last four outings. Then, minutes later, Brandon Duhaime got to the front of the net and picked up a nice feed from Nic Dowd before sniping a quick shot past Filip Gustavsson to make it 2-1. It marked Duhaime's ninth goal of the season, matching the single-season career high he set with no other than Minnesota.

Sammi Silber·17h·Partner

Capitals vs. Bruins Preview: Line Combinations, Stats, Storylines To Watch

The Washington Capitals have a busy night ahead of them in Beantown, as Ryan Leonard makes his long-awaited NHL debut and the team aims to snap a three-game losing streak against the Boston Bruins. Here's everything to know before puck drop at 7 p.m. at TD Garden: Washington Capitals Line Combinations The Capitals will see some lineup changes, as Ryan Leonard will draw in for Taylor Raddysh up front with the team shuffling around some combinations to try and spark chemistry and accommodate the 20-year-old's addition to the mix. On the blue line, Dylan McIlrath draws back in for Matt Roy, who is not on this trip due to family reasons. Charlie Lindgren will start. Here are the projected combos: Alex Ovechkin-Pierre-Luc Dubois-Tom Wilson Aliaksei Protas-Dylan Strome-Ryan Leonard Andrew Mangiapane-Lars Eller-Anthony Beauvillier Brandon Duhaime-Nic Dowd-Connor McMichael Rasmus Sandin-John Carlson Jakob Chychrun-Trevor van Riemsdyk Martin Fehervary-Dylan McIlrath Charlie Lindgren Logan Thompson Washington Capitals Stats - Aliaksei Protas has points in six of his last seven games. - Dylan Strome hit the 70-point mark back on Sunday and has three points in his last four games. Washington Capitals Storylines - Alex Ovechkin sits five goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky's all-time NHL goals record after scoring career goal No. 890 back on Sunday. He has points in in six of his last seven games, and in his career against the Bruins, he has 29 goals in 68 appearances. - Watch for Leonard to try and make noise as he joins the NHL ranks. He finished his sophomore season leading the NCAA with 30 goals in 37 games. - Keep an eye on Anthony Beauvillier, who continues to fit in well with D.C.'s systems and lineup.

Sammi Silber·5d·Partner

Capitals vs. Wild Preview: Line Combinations, Stats, Storylines To Watch

The Washington Capitals are looking to finish their small road trip up north on a high note as they pay a visit to the Minnesota Wild. Here's everything to know before puck drop at 7:30 p.m. ET. Washington Capitals Line Combinations The Capitals will stick with the same line combinations as they take on the Wild, with Charlie Lindgren getting the start in net. Here are the lines: Alex Ovechkin-Dylan Strome-Aliaksei Protas Connor McMichael-Pierre-Luc Dubois-Tom Wilson Andrew Mangiapane-Lars Eller-Taylor Raddysh Brandon Duhaime-Nic Dowd-Anthony Beauvillier Rasmus Sandin-John Carlson Martin Fehervary-Matt Roy Jakob Chychrun-Trevor van Riemsdyk Charlie Lindgren Logan Thompson Washington Capitals Stats - Alex Ovechkin has points in five straight games, with three goals and four assists over that span. He sits at 889 career goals, six away from breaking Wayne Gretzky's all-time NHL goals record. - Aliaksei Protas is also a five-game point streak. - Andrew Mangiapane has goals in three straight games. - Trevor van Riemsdyk has points in four of his last five outings. Washington Capitals Storylines - Keep an eye on Brandon Duhaime as he returns to his old stomping grounds in Minnesota. - Also watch out for Connor McMichael, who's seen his fair share of chances in recent games and continues to impress. - The power play is also long overdue for a goal; it has gone nine straight games without converting and is 0-for-16 over that span.