NHL

A Look at the Capitals and Maple Leafs Showdown On Wednesday night, the Washington Capitals will get their first look at the 2024-25 Toronto Maple Leafs as they host the Leafs at Capital One Arena. The game is Washington’s tenth home appearance in this young season, which spans just over a month. Following this home game, the Capitals embark on a grueling road stretch, playing 14 of their next 21 games away from home. Earn 25-35 per review: Simple and Fun! Capitals Return After Decisive Win Over St. Louis After an impressive 8-1 victory against the St. After their matchup against the St. Louis Blues last Saturday, the Capitals used a scheduled day off to recharge. Following an optional practice on Monday, the team reconvened on Tuesday for a full practice, readying themselves for a stretch of four games in six nights, facing tough opponents in each outing. The First Trade of the Chris Patrick Era: Lars Eller Returns The Capitals announced a noteworthy trade on Tuesday evening, marking the first significant move under new general manager Chris Patrick. Patrick traded two draft picks—Washington’s third-rounder in 2027 and Chicago’s fifth-rounder in 2025—to the Pittsburgh Penguins to bring back veteran center Lars Eller. Eller was a key part of Washington’s 2017-18 Stanley Cup championship team and returned over 20 months after being traded to Colorado in March 2023. This season, Eller recorded four goals and seven points in 17 games with the Penguins, ranking fifth in scoring among Pittsburgh’s forwards. He brings solid face-off skills, holding a 56% win rate this season, which will help Washington improve its current 47.7% team face-off success rate. Roster Update: Mike Sgarbossa Assigned to Hershey In a related move, Washington sent center Mike Sgarbossa to AHL Hershey following Eller’s acquisition. Sgarbossa added both a goal and an assist in Saturday’s victory over St. Louis, but assigning him to Hershey clears roster space for Eller’s arrival. A Solid Opening to the Capitals' Season The Capitals have started the season strong, with a 10-4-0 record in their first 14 games. Notably, they have yet to lose consecutive games, a record only shared with a few other teams, including Metro Division rivals Carolina and the New York Rangers, and the Winnipeg Jets, who are leading with a 15-1-0 record under Scotty Arniel. Washington’s 5-on-5 Dominance and Power Play Improvements Washington’s recent 8-1 win over the Blues highlighted the team’s improvements on the power play. Despite a rocky start with the man advantage, the team’s exceptional 5-on-5 performance has compensated for early struggles. Washington’s top line—featuring Aliaksei Protas, Dylan Strome, and Alex Ovechkin—has outscored opponents 13-4 at 5-on-5. The second line, comprising Connor McMichael, P-L Dubois, and Tom Wilson, has scored 12 goals at even strength and controls 61.87% of all shots while on the ice. P-L Dubois, the Caps’ center, reflected on the team’s strong chemistry: “Everyone is just having a lot of fun here,” he said. “Arriving at the rink to a sea of smiles transforms the entire atmosphere..” Toronto’s Tough Loss to Ottawa Stepping onto the rink and seeing everyone with a smile instantly shifts the entire vibe. In that game, Ottawa’s Josh Norris scored in the first minute, setting the tone for the Senators, who added two quick goals in the second period. The loss snapped Toronto’s three-game winning streak, marking their second three-game streak of the season. Busy Schedule Ahead for Both Teams After Wednesday’s game in Washington, the Maple Leafs will return to Toronto to begin another homestand, starting with a matchup against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday. The Capitals, meanwhile, will prepare for a series of road games as they look to maintain their momentum. Got a knack for writing and a knack for making money?