{"time":1784225946310,"blocks":[{"id":"EzpccxsyDt","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The Washington Capitals are set to open their season in early October, as the NHL released their official 84-game slate on Thursday."}},{"id":"LJ7zRHx19z","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Washington's season kicks off on Oct. 2 with a visit to Lenovo Center, where they'll take on the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes. Then, they'll head directly to Tampa to face off against John Carlson and the Lightning the next day."}},{"id":"deWW2yfENL","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The Capitals will then return home on Oct. 7 for their opener against the rival Pittsburgh Penguins."}},{"id":"GzvWTSxUEm","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Here are more key dates and the full schedule:"}},{"id":"ebaxASH6as","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Key Washington Capitals dates:"}},{"id":"lEh_uBHMSR","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Friday, Oct. 2 — Capitals open the season against the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes"}},{"id":"uiuwysAYfF","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Saturday, Oct. 3 — Capitals face John Carlson for the first time as they visit Tampa"}},{"id":"1m2njLNRP3","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Wednesday, Oct. 7 — Capitals open the season at home as Alex Ovechkin faces off against Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins"}},{"id":"o4cFoBWKLW","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Friday Nov. 27 — Capitals host the Florida Panthers on Black Friday."}},{"id":"tCbQDlBu5v","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Monday, Dec. 21 — Capitals visit Gavin McKenna and the Toronto Maple Leafs before the holiday break."}},{"id":"z7jGaZ_1Vx","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Monday, Dec. 28 — Capitals host Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers."}},{"id":"hwunv3vZKe","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Monday, Jan. 4 — McKenna and the Leafs visit the Capitals in D.C."}},{"id":"sU8MSe8y1n","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Thursday, Jan. 14 — Capitals host the Hurricanes"}},{"id":"KwJQpa9vw5","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Sunday, Feb. 14 — Capitals host the Utah Mammoth on Super Bowl Sunday"}},{"id":"4rumQyNl08","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Friday, Feb. 19 — Capitals host Macklin Celebrini and the San Jose Sharks"}},{"id":"5ScC1i4Zxf","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Monday, March 15 — John Carlson makes his return to Capital One Arena as the Capitals host the Lightning."}},{"id":"KeODEQ6m0I","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Tuesday, March 30 — Capitals host Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks"}},{"id":"4CqcomP676","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Sunday, April 4 — Capitals host the Penguins in their home finale"}},{"id":"R064G7fz-3","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Full Capitals schedule:"}},{"id":"Zg2iFxvyFD","type":"table","data":{"withHeadings":false,"stretched":false,"content":[["Date\n","Visitor\n","Home\n","Time (ET)\n"," \n","Date\n","Visitor\n","Home\n","Time (ET)\n"],["10/2/2026\n","Washington\n","Carolina\n","7:00 PM\n"," \n","1/10/2027\n","Washington\n","Anaheim\n","8:00 PM\n"],["10/3/2026\n","Washington\n","Tampa Bay\n","7:00 PM\n"," \n","1/12/2027\n","Vegas\n","Washington\n","7:00 PM\n"],["10/7/2026\n","Pittsburgh\n","Washington\n","7:30 PM\n"," \n","1/14/2027\n","Carolina\n","Washington\n","7:00 PM\n"],["10/9/2026\n","NY Rangers\n","Washington\n","7:00 PM\n"," \n","1/16/2027\n","Colorado\n","Washington\n","7:00 PM\n"],["10/11/2026\n","Seattle\n","Washington\n","5:00 PM\n"," \n","1/18/2027\n","Washington\n","Pittsburgh\n","4:00 PM\n"],["10/13/2026\n","Washington\n","Carolina\n","6:45 PM\n"," \n","1/19/2027\n","Montreal\n","Washington\n","7:00 PM\n"],["10/14/2026\n","Montreal\n","Washington\n","7:30 PM\n"," \n","1/22/2027\n","NY Islanders\n","Washington\n","7:00 PM\n"],["10/17/2026\n","New Jersey\n","Washington\n","1:00 PM\n"," \n","1/24/2027\n","Washington\n","New Jersey\n","7:00 PM\n"],["10/20/2026\n","Los Angeles\n","Washington\n","7:00 PM\n"," \n","1/29/2027\n","Washington\n","Utah\n","9:00 PM\n"],["10/24/2026\n","Buffalo\n","Washington\n","7:00 PM\n"," \n","1/30/2027\n","Washington\n","Vegas\n","10:00 PM\n"],["10/28/2026\n","Philadelphia\n","Washington\n","7:30 PM\n"," \n","2/2/2027\n","Winnipeg\n","Washington\n","6:00 PM\n"],["10/29/2026\n","Washington\n","Nashville\n","8:00 PM\n"," \n","2/3/2027\n","Washington\n","Florida\n","7:00 PM\n"],["11/1/2026\n","Minnesota\n","Washington\n","3:30 PM\n"," \n","2/13/2027\n","Washington\n","Montreal\n","1:00 PM\n"],["11/3/2026\n","Dallas\n","Washington\n","7:00 PM\n"," \n","2/14/2027\n","Utah\n","Washington\n","1:00 PM\n"],["11/7/2026\n","Florida\n","Washington\n","12:30 PM\n"," \n","2/16/2027\n","Anaheim\n","Washington\n","7:00 PM\n"],["11/10/2026\n","Washington\n","Ottawa\n","7:00 PM\n"," \n","2/19/2027\n","San Jose\n","Washington\n","7:00 PM\n"],["11/12/2026\n","Washington\n","New Jersey\n","7:00 PM\n"," \n","2/21/2027\n","Nashville\n","Washington\n","6:00 PM\n"],["11/14/2026\n","New Jersey\n","Washington\n","7:00 PM\n"," \n","2/23/2027\n","NY Rangers\n","Washington\n","7:00 PM\n"],["11/17/2026\n","Washington\n","Tampa Bay\n","7:00 PM\n"," \n","2/25/2027\n","Washington\n","Boston\n","8:00 PM\n"],["11/19/2026\n","Buffalo\n","Washington\n","7:00 PM\n"," \n","2/26/2027\n","Washington\n","NY Rangers\n","7:00 PM\n"],["11/21/2026\n","Washington\n","Boston\n","7:00 PM\n"," \n","3/1/2027\n","Washington\n","NY Islanders\n","7:00 PM\n"],["11/25/2026\n","Philadelphia\n","Washington\n","7:00 PM\n"," \n","3/3/2027\n","Carolina\n","Washington\n","7:00 PM\n"],["11/27/2026\n","Florida\n","Washington\n","3:00 PM\n"," \n","3/5/2027\n","Washington\n","Winnipeg\n","8:00 PM\n"],["11/28/2026\n","Washington\n","St. Louis\n","7:00 PM\n"," \n","3/7/2027\n","Washington\n","Minnesota\n","8:30 PM\n"],["12/1/2026\n","Vancouver\n","Washington\n","7:00 PM\n"," \n","3/9/2027\n","Calgary\n","Washington\n","7:00 PM\n"],["12/3/2026\n","Washington\n","Edmonton\n","8:00 PM\n"," \n","3/10/2027\n","Washington\n","Chicago\n","9:30 PM\n"],["12/5/2026\n","Washington\n","Calgary\n","3:30 PM\n"," \n","3/13/2027\n","Washington\n","Pittsburgh\n","3:00 PM\n"],["12/7/2026\n","Washington\n","Vancouver\n","9:00 PM\n"," \n","3/15/2027\n","Tampa Bay\n","Washington\n","1:00 PM\n"],["12/10/2026\n","Washington\n","Seattle\n","9:00 PM\n"," \n","3/17/2027\n","NY Islanders\n","Washington\n","7:00 PM\n"],["12/12/2026\n","Washington\n","Colorado\n","9:00 PM\n"," \n","3/18/2027\n","Washington\n","Buffalo\n","7:00 PM\n"],["12/15/2026\n","Washington\n","Dallas\n","9:30 PM\n"," \n","3/21/2027\n","Washington\n","NY Rangers\n","7:00 PM\n"],["12/17/2026\n","Detroit\n","Washington\n","7:00 PM\n"," \n","3/23/2027\n","Detroit\n","Washington\n","7:00 PM\n"],["12/19/2026\n","St. Louis\n","Washington\n","7:00 PM\n"," \n","3/24/2027\n","Washington\n","Detroit\n","7:30 PM\n"],["12/21/2026\n","Washington\n","Toronto\n","1:00 PM\n"," \n","3/26/2027\n","Boston\n","Washington\n","7:00 PM\n"],["12/26/2026\n","Columbus\n","Washington\n","7:00 PM\n"," \n","3/28/2027\n","Washington\n","Toronto\n","6:00 PM\n"],["12/28/2026\n","Edmonton\n","Washington\n","7:00 PM\n"," \n","3/30/2027\n","Chicago\n","Washington\n","7:00 PM\n"],["12/30/2026\n","Washington\n","NY Islanders\n","4:00 PM\n"," \n","4/1/2027\n","Washington\n","Philadelphia\n","7:00 PM\n"],["12/31/2026\n","Washington\n","Columbus\n","2:00 PM\n"," \n","4/3/2027\n","Columbus\n","Washington\n","5:00 PM\n"],["1/2/2027\n","Ottawa\n","Washington\n","7:00 PM\n"," \n","4/4/2027\n","Pittsburgh\n","Washington\n","7:00 PM\n"],["1/4/2027\n","Toronto\n","Washington\n","7:30 PM\n"," \n","4/6/2027\n","Washington\n","Columbus\n","7:00 PM\n"],["1/6/2027\n","Washington\n","Los Angeles\n","10:00 PM\n"," \n","4/8/2027\n","Washington\n","Ottawa\n","7:00 PM\n"],["1/8/2027\n","Washington\n","San Jose\n","10:00 PM\n"," \n","4/10/2027\n","Washington\n","Philadelphia\n","12:00 PM\n"]]}}],"version":"2.31.6"}

Elvis Merzlikins Explains Fight With Tom Wilson, Believes Capitals Winger Was Targeting Him: 'He Got What He Deserved... I Don't Care'