Wikiwand AI

2025–26 Washington Capitals season

National Hockey League season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2025–26 Washington Capitals season was the 52nd season (51st season of play) for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on June 11, 1974.

Division4th Metropolitan
Conference9th Eastern
2025–26 record42–30–9
Home record25–11–5
Quick facts Washington Capitals, Division ...
2025–26 Washington Capitals
Division4th Metropolitan
Conference9th Eastern
2025–26 record42–30–9
Home record25–11–5
Road record17–19–4
Goals for261
Goals against243
Team information
General managerChris Patrick
CoachSpencer Carbery
CaptainAlexander Ovechkin
Alternate captainsJohn Carlson (Oct. 8 – Mar. 6)
Dylan Strome (Mar. 7 – Apr. 14)
Tom Wilson
ArenaCapital One Arena
Minor league affiliatesHershey Bears (AHL)
South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL)
Team leaders
GoalsAlexander Ovechkin (32)
AssistsDylan Strome (39)
PointsAlexander Ovechkin (64)
Penalty minutesTom Wilson (117)
Plus/minusAliaksei Protas (+20)
WinsLogan Thompson (30)
Goals against averageClay Stevenson (2.33)
Close

On April 13, the Capitals were eliminated from playoff contention for the first time since the 2022–23 season and the third time since the 2006–07 season following a 3–2 shootout win by the Philadelphia Flyers against the Carolina Hurricanes.[1][2]

Standings

Divisional standings

More information Pos, GP ...
Metropolitan Division
Pos Team
 GP W L OTL RW GF GA GD Pts
1 z – Carolina Hurricanes 82 53 22 7 39 296 240 +56 113
2 x – Pittsburgh Penguins 82 41 25 16 34 293 268 +25 98
3 x – Philadelphia Flyers 82 43 27 12 27 250 243 +7 98
4 Washington Capitals 82 43 30 9 37 263 244 +19 95
5 Columbus Blue Jackets 82 40 30 12 28 253 253 0 92
6 New York Islanders 82 43 34 5 29 233 241 −8 91
7 New Jersey Devils 82 42 37 3 29 230 254 −24 87
8 New York Rangers 82 34 39 9 25 238 250 −12 77
Close
Source: National Hockey League[3]
Rules for classification: 1) Fewer number of games played (GP, only during regular season); 2) Greater number of regulation wins (RW); 3) Greater number of wins in regulation and overtime, excluding shootout wins (ROW); 4) Greater number of total wins, including shootouts (W); 5) Greater number of points earned in head-to-head play; if teams played an uneven number of head-to-head games, the result of the first game on the home ice of the team with the extra home game is discarded; 6) Greater goal differential (GD); 7) Greater number of goals scored (GF)
x – Clinched playoff spot; z – Clinched conference

Conference standings

More information Pos, Div ...
Eastern Conference Wild Card
Pos Div Team
 GP W L OTL RW GF GA GD Pts
1 AT x – Boston Bruins 82 45 27 10 33 272 250 +22 100
2 AT x – Ottawa Senators 82 44 27 11 38 278 246 +32 99
3 ME Washington Capitals 82 43 30 9 37 263 244 +19 95
4 AT Detroit Red Wings 82 41 31 10 30 241 258 −17 92
5 ME Columbus Blue Jackets 82 40 30 12 28 253 253 0 92
6 ME New York Islanders 82 43 34 5 29 233 241 −8 91
7 ME New Jersey Devils 82 42 37 3 29 230 254 −24 87
8 AT Florida Panthers 82 40 38 4 32 251 276 −25 84
9 AT Toronto Maple Leafs 82 32 36 14 23 253 299 −46 78
10 ME New York Rangers 82 34 39 9 25 238 250 −12 77
Close
Source: National Hockey League[4]
Rules for classification: 1) Fewer number of games played (GP, only during regular season); 2) Greater number of regulation wins (RW); 3) Greater number of wins in regulation and overtime, excluding shootout wins (ROW); 4) Greater number of total wins, including shootouts (W); 5) Greater number of points earned in head-to-head play; if teams played an uneven number of head-to-head games, the result of the first game on the home ice of the team with the extra home game is discarded; 6) Greater goal differential (GD); 7) Greater number of goals scored (GF)
x – Clinched playoff spot

Schedule and results

Preseason

The preseason schedule was released on July 3, 2025.[5]

More information #, Date ...
2025 preseason game log: 5–1–0 (Home: 2–1–0; Road: 3–0–0)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecord
1September 21Washington5–2BostonBjorklundTD Garden17,8501–0–0
2ASeptember 25Philadelphia1–5WashingtonStevensonGiant Center10,4202–0–0
3September 28Washington3–2New JerseySOLindgrenPrudential Center8,3413–0–0
4September 30Washington4–3ColumbusThompsonNationwide Arena11,1284–0–0
5October 2Boston3–1WashingtonLindgrenCapital One Arena11,3044–1–0
6October 4Columbus1–2WashingtonThompsonCapital One Arena12,1315–1–0
Legend

  Win   Loss   OT/SO Loss
A – Game played in Hershey, Pennsylvania

Close

Regular season

The regular season schedule was released on July 16, 2025.[6]

More information #, Date ...
2025–26 game log
October: 6–5–0 (Home: 3–4–0; Road: 3–1–0)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
1October 8Boston3–1WashingtonThompsonCapital One Arena18,3470–1–00[7]
2October 11Washington4–2NY IslandersThompsonUBS Arena17,2551–1–02[8]
3October 12Washington1–0NY RangersLindgrenMadison Square Garden17,4792–1–04[9]
4October 14Tampa Bay2–3WashingtonOTThompsonCapital One Arena16,9483–1–06[10]
5October 17Minnesota1–5WashingtonThompsonCapital One Arena17,4824–1–08[11]
6October 19Vancouver4–3WashingtonLindgrenCapital One Arena17,0184–2–08[12]
7October 21Seattle1–4WashingtonThompsonCapital One Arena16,5785–2–010[13]
8October 24Washington5–1ColumbusThompsonNationwide Arena17,7146–2–012[14]
9October 25Ottawa7–1WashingtonLindgrenCapital One Arena18,3476–3–012[15]
10October 28Washington0–1DallasThompsonAmerican Airlines Center18,5326–4–012[16]
11October 31NY Islanders3–1WashingtonThompsonCapital One Arena16,4716–5–012[17]
November: 9–4–2 (Home: 6–1–1; Road: 3–3–1)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
12November 1Washington3–4BuffaloSOLindgrenKeyBank Center19,0706–5–113[18]
13November 5St. Louis1–6WashingtonThompsonCapital One Arena17,4377–5–115[19]
14November 6Washington3–5PittsburghLindgrenPPG Paints Arena18,3847–6–115[20]
15November 8Washington2–3Tampa BayThompsonBenchmark International Arena19,0927–7–115[21]
16November 11Washington4–1CarolinaThompsonLenovo Center18,2998–7–117[22]
17November 13Washington3–6FloridaThompsonAmerant Bank Arena19,6508–8–117[23]
18November 15New Jersey3–2WashingtonSOThompsonCapital One Arena18,3478–8–218[24]
19November 17Los Angeles1–2WashingtonLindgrenCapital One Arena17,6499–8–220[25]
20November 19Edmonton4–7WashingtonThompsonCapital One Arena17,92910–8–222[26]
21November 20Washington8–4MontrealLindgrenBell Centre20,96211–8–224[27]
22November 22Tampa Bay5–3WashingtonThompsonCapital One Arena18,34711–9–224[28]
23November 24Columbus1–5WashingtonThompsonCapital One Arena17,33712–9–226[29]
24November 26Winnipeg3–4WashingtonLindgrenCapital One Arena18,34713–9–228[30]
25November 28Toronto2–4WashingtonThompsonCapital One Arena18,34714–9–230[31]
26November 30Washington4–1NY IslandersThompsonUBS Arena15,64815–9–232[32]
December: 6–5–3 (Home: 3–2–1; Road: 3–3–2)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
27December 2Washington3–1Los AngelesThompsonCrypto.com Arena16,50916–9–234[33]
28December 3Washington7–1San JoseLindgrenSAP Center15,46617–9–236[34]
29December 5Washington3–4AnaheimSOThompsonHonda Center16,12217–9–337[35]
30December 7Columbus0–2WashingtonThompsonCapital One Arena17,31218–9–339[36]
31December 11Carolina3–2WashingtonSOThompsonCapital One Arena18,18518–9–440[37]
32December 13Washington1–5WinnipegThompsonCanada Life Centre14,09618–10–440[38]
33December 16Washington0–5MinnesotaLindgrenGrand Casino Arena18,04418–11–440[39]
34December 18Toronto0–4WashingtonThompsonCapital One Arena18,34719–11–442[40]
35December 20Detroit5–2WashingtonThompsonCapital One Arena18,34719–12–442[41]
36December 21Washington2–3DetroitOTLindgrenLittle Caesars Arena19,51519–12–543[42]
37December 23NY Rangers7–3WashingtonThompsonCapital One Arena18,34719–13–543[43]
38December 27Washington4–3New JerseyOTThompsonPrudential Center16,76320–13–545[44]
39December 29Washington3–5FloridaThompsonAmerant Bank Arena19,42120–14–545[45]
40December 31NY Rangers3–6WashingtonLindgrenCapital One Arena18,34721–14–547[46]
January: 6–8–2 (Home: 3–3–1; Road: 3–5–1)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
41January 1Washington3–4OttawaThompsonCanadian Tire Centre18,43321–15–547[47]
42January 3Chicago3–2WashingtonSOThompsonCapital One Arena18,34721–15–648[48]
43January 5Anaheim4–7WashingtonLindgrenCapital One Arena17,56022–15–650[49]
44January 7Dallas4–1WashingtonThompsonCapital One Arena18,34722–16–650[50]
45January 9Washington5–1ChicagoThompsonUnited Center19,91723–16–652[51]
46January 11Washington2–3NashvilleLindgrenBridgestone Arena17,15923–17–652[52]
47January 13Montreal2–3WashingtonOTThompsonCapital One Arena18,34724–17–654[53]
48January 15San Jose3–2WashingtonThompsonCapital One Arena18,34724–18–654[54]
49January 17Florida5–2WashingtonThompsonCapital One Arena18,34724–19–654[55]
50January 19Washington2–5ColoradoLindgrenBall Arena18,13624–20–654[56]
51January 21Washington3–4VancouverThompsonRogers Arena18,55624–21–654[57]
52January 23Washington3–1CalgaryThompsonScotiabank Saddledome17,37925–21–656[58]
53January 24Washington5–6EdmontonOTLindgrenRogers Place18,34725–21–757[59]
54January 27Washington1–5SeattleThompsonClimate Pledge Arena17,15125–22–757[60]
55January 29Washington4–3DetroitSOLindgrenLittle Caesars Arena19,51526–22–759[61]
56January 31Carolina3–4WashingtonOTStevensonCapital One Arena18,34727–22–761[62]
February: 4–2–0 (Home: 4–0–0; Road: 0–2–0)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
57February 2NY Islanders1–4WashingtonStevensonCapital One Arena17,54528–22–763[63]
58February 3Washington2–4PhiladelphiaStevensonXfinity Mobile Arena19,41028–23–763[64]
59February 5Nashville2–4WashingtonThompsonCapital One Arena18,34729–23–765[65]
60February 25Philadelphia1–3WashingtonThompsonCapital One Arena18,34730–23–767[66]
61February 27Vegas2–3WashingtonThompsonCapital One Arena18,34731–23–769[67]
62February 28Washington2–6MontrealLindgrenBell Centre20,96231–24–769[68]
March: 7–4–2 (Home: 4–1–2; Road: 3–3–0)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
63March 3Utah3–2WashingtonThompsonCapital One Arena17,38731–25–769[69]
64March 7Washington1–3BostonThompsonTD Garden17,85031–26–769[70]
65March 9Calgary3–7WashingtonThompsonCapital One Arena17,72432–26–771[71]
66March 11Washington1–4PhiladelphiaThompsonXfinity Mobile Arena19,05332–27–771[72]
67March 12Washington2–1BuffaloLindgrenKeyBank Center19,07033–27–773[73]
68March 14Boston3–2WashingtonSOThompsonCapital One Arena18,34733–27–874[74]
69March 18Ottawa1–4WashingtonThompsonCapital One Arena18,34734–27–876[75]
70March 20New Jersey1–2WashingtonThompsonCapital One Arena18,34735–27–878[76]
71March 22Colorado3–2WashingtonOTThompsonCapital One Arena18,34735–27–979[77]
72March 24Washington0–3St. LouisThompsonEnterprise Center18,09635–28–979[78]
73March 26Washington7–4UtahThompsonDelta Center12,47836–28–981[79]
74March 28Washington5–4VegasSOThompsonT-Mobile Arena17,92237–28–983[80]
75March 31Philadelphia4–6WashingtonThompsonCapital One Arena18,34738–28–985[81]
April: 5–2–0 (Home: 2–0–0; Road: 3–2–0)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
76April 2Washington3–7New JerseyThompsonPrudential Center16,05738–29–985[82]
77April 4Buffalo2–6WashingtonThompsonCapital One Arena18,34739–29–987[83]
78April 5Washington1–8NY RangersLindgrenMadison Square Garden17,33539–30–987[84]
79April 8Washington4–0TorontoThompsonScotiabank Arena18,64040–30–989[85]
80April 11Washington6–3PittsburghThompsonPPG Paints Arena18,41041–30–991[86]
81April 12Pittsburgh0–3WashingtonThompsonCapital One Arena18,34742–30–993[87]
82April 14Washington2–1ColumbusStevensonNationwide Arena18,24443–30–995[88]

  Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Overtime/shootout loss (1 point)

Close

Player stats

As of game played April 14, 2026

Skaters

More information Player, GP ...
Regular season [89]
Player GP G A Pts +/− PIM
Alexander Ovechkin82323264−526
Tom Wilson72303262+15117
Jakob Chychrun80263460+2062
Dylan Strome80193958+246
Aliaksei Protas76252752+2020
Connor McMichael78143246+830
John Carlson‡55103646+1126
Ryan Leonard75202545+247
Justin Sourdif78152035+1735
Rasmus Sandin7352429+412
Anthony Beauvillier82151328+730
Martin Fehervary8152227+1539
Ethen Frank62121224+818
Pierre-Luc Dubois2951419−419
Matt Roy7921719+1812
Nic Dowd‡5541216−653
Hendrix Lapierre7441216031
Trevor van Riemsdyk6831114+618
Cole Hutson143710−38
Brandon Duhaime82459−278
Sonny Milano‡3144804
Declan Chisholm26167+34
Ilya Protas4134+12
Ivan Miroshnichenko13213+12
Timothy Liljegren†400002
David Kampf†2000−12
Dylan McIlrath13000−110
Brett Leason6000−20
Bogdan Trineyev200000
Close

Goaltenders

More information Player, GP ...
Regular season [90]
Player GP GS TOI W L OT GA GAA SA SV% SO G A PIM
Logan Thompson58583445:03312161402.441587.9124010
Charlie Lindgren21201246:02983733.52602.8791018
Clay Stevenson44239:4431082.00101.9210000
Close

†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Capitals. Stats reflect time with the Capitals only.
‡No longer with the Capitals.

Transactions

Trades

More information Date, Details ...
DateDetailsRef
June 28, 2025 (2025-06-28) To Ottawa Senators
CAR 3rd-round pick in 2025 (#93 overall)		 To Washington Capitals
FLA 3rd-round pick in 2025 (#96 overall)
7th-round pick in 2027		 [91]
June 28, 2025 (2025-06-28) To Minnesota Wild
Chase Priskie
4th-round pick in 2025		 To Washington Capitals
Declan Chisholm
6th-round pick in 2025		 [92]
November 3, 2025 (2025-11-03) To St. Louis Blues
Calle Rosen		 To Washington Capitals
Corey Schueneman		 [93]
March 5, 2026 (2026-03-05) To Vegas Golden Knights
Nic Dowd		 To Washington Capitals
Jesper Vikman
2nd-round pick in 2029
3rd-round pick in 2027		 [94]
March 6, 2026 (2026-03-06) To Anaheim Ducks
John Carlson		 To Washington Capitals
Conditional 1st-round pick in 2026
3rd-round pick in 2027		 [95]
March 6, 2026 (2026-03-06) To Vancouver Canucks
6th-round pick in 2026		 To Washington Capitals
David Kampf		 [96]
March 6, 2026 (2026-03-06) To San Jose Sharks
VGK 4th-round pick in 2026		 To Washington Capitals
Timothy Liljegren		 [97]
March 6, 2026 (2026-03-06) To Ottawa Senators
Graeme Clarke		 To Washington Capitals
Wyatt Bongiovanni		 [98]
Close

Players acquired

More information Date, Player ...
DatePlayerNew teamTermViaRef
July 2, 2025 (2025-07-02)Louie BelpedioPhiladelphia Flyers2-yearFree agency[99]
Graeme ClarkeMinnesota Wild1-yearFree agency[99]
Calle RosenColorado Avalanche1-yearFree agency[99]
July 7, 2025 (2025-07-07)Sheldon RempalSalavat Yulaev Ufa (KHL)1-yearFree agency[100]
October 27, 2025 (2025-10-27)Brett LeasonAnaheim Ducks1-yearFree agency[101]
Close

Players lost

More information Date, Player ...
DatePlayerNew teamTermViaRef
June 9, 2025 (2025-06-09)T.J. OshieRetirement[102]
July 1, 2025 (2025-07-01)Ethan BearNew York Islanders1-yearFree agency[103]
Lars EllerOttawa Senators1-yearFree agency[104]
Taylor RaddyshNew York Rangers2-yearFree agency[105]
Andrew MangiapaneEdmonton Oilers2-yearFree agency[106]
July 2, 2025 (2025-07-02)Hunter ShepardOttawa Senators1-yearFree agency[107]
Alexander AlexeyevPittsburgh Penguins1-yearFree agency[108]
October 16, 2025 Vincent Iorio San Jose Sharks Waivers [109]
Close

Signings

Draft picks

See also: List of Washington Capitals draft picks

Below are the Washington Capitals' selections at the 2025 NHL entry draft, which was held on June 27 and 28, 2025, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California.

More information Round, # ...
Round # Player Pos Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
1 27 Lynden Lakovic RW  Canada Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
2 37 Milton Gastrin C  Sweden Modo Hockey (SHL)
3 96 Maxim Schafer LW  Germany Eisbären Berlin (DEL)
5 155 Jackson Crowder C  United States Chicago Steel (USHL)
6 180 Aron Dahlqvist D  Sweden Brynäs J20 (J20 Nationell)
Close

References

Related Articles

Timelines

Top Qs

Fact Checks