Washington Capitals 2024 Stanley Cup Odds
In 2018, Alex Ovechkin completed his most important mission as the savior of the Washington Capitals. The Great Eight led the Caps to their only Stanley Cup championship with an important assist from then-head coach Barry Trotz. The Caps let Trotz walk away a few days after hoisting the Cup and have never been the same. Trotz was the only man in the Ovechkin era who could get the Caps to commit to the back check and responsible hockey. Now Washington is an aging team that lacks a good supporting cast for Ovechkin, who is hanging on to break Wayne Gretzky’s goal scoring record. The Caps are a marginal playoff contender but not a serious threat for the Cup.
2024 Stanley Cup Betting Odds
Washington Capitals NHL Betting Lines
At the approach of the All-Star Break, the Washington Capitals are 22-18-6 straight up and 16-24 over/under the total. Also, Washington is 5th in the Eastern Conference wild card playoff standings. Washington is five points behind the Detroit Red Wings in the Eastern Conference wild card playoff race. Late on Washington has covered three out of their last eight games. While the Capitals have gone under the total in three of its previous eight matchups. Washington has NHL rankings of 30th for goals scored and 28th for power play efficiency. In comparison on defense, the Caps have NHL rankings of 12th for goals against and 16th for penalty killing.
The Capitals have come full circle as a team that now struggles to light the lamp and uses defense and goaltending to get by. It’s a radical transformation of a former run-and-gun team. And it is indicative of the impending end of the Alex Ovechkin era.
Washington Capitals Key Players
Alex Ovechkin will go down as the savior of the Washington franchise and its most iconic player, not to mention a future Hall of Famer. However, Ovechkin is now 38 and showing his age and the wear and tear from his career of carrying the Caps franchise.
The Great Eight was the first overall pick of the 2004 NHL Draft and began his career with the Caps in 2005-06. Ovechkin had only eight goals in his first 42 games this season, 35 goals shy of Gretzky’s record. Ovechkin is a 13-time NHL All-Star, nine-time Rocket Richard winner as the top goal scorer of a season, three-time Hart Memorial Trophy winner as NHL MVP, and 2018 Conn Smythe Trophy winner as the playoff MVP.
Washington Capitals Goaltenders
Goaltender Charlie Lindgren had an impressive .926 save percentage in his first 19 games. This is his second season in the NHL.
Darcy Kuemper won the 2022 Stanley Cup as the goaltender of the Colorado Avalanche. Kuemper stumbled out of the gate with a .892 save percentage in his first 24 games this season, opening the door for Lindgren. Kuemper broke into the NHL in 2013-14 with the Minnesota Wild. He has a solid .916 save percentage in his career.
Washington Capitals Head Coach
Rookie head coach Spencer Carbery was a career minor leaguer as a player and coach. Previously, he was the head coach of the Hershey Bears, Washington’s top farm club.
Season-by-Season Record (Last 5)
SEASON |
GAMES |
WINS |
LOSSES |
FINISH |
PLAYOFFS |
2022–23 |
82 |
35 |
37 |
6th, Metropolitan |
Did not qualify |
2021–22 |
82 |
44 |
26 |
4th, Metropolitan |
Lost in First Round, 2–4 (Panthers) |
2020–21 |
56 |
36 |
15 |
2nd, East |
Lost in First Round, 1–4 (Bruins) |
2019–20 |
69 |
41 |
20 |
1st, Metropolitan |
Lost in First Round, 1–4 (Islanders) |
2018–19 |
82 |
48 |
26 |
1st, Metropolitan |
Lost in First Round, 3–4 (Hurricanes) |
Washington Capitals History
The Caps were founded as an expansion franchise with the Kansas City Scouts in 1974. They have long had a reputation for being playoff chokers before finally exercising those demons in 2018 with their only Stanley Cup championship. The Capitals were languishing in half-empty buildings with no real passion from fans until the arrival of Alex Ovechkin.
Indeed, The Great Eight has proven to be one of the most transformational athletes in sports history. In Washington, he did what seemed impossible; he made the Capitals cool. The Capitals were a losing franchise with low attendance until the early 1980s when they finally became a regular playoff team. Attendance improved significantly, and the franchise developed a following. But years of heartbreak in the Stanley Cup Playoffs took their toll. Fans were tired of the annual failures, and the team regressed on the ice. Finally, in 1999 they found a new owner.
The Washington Capitals were again a nothing franchise before the arrival of owner Ted Leonsis and left wing Alex Ovechkin. The Capitals were not even on the radar when Leonsis took command.
Washington was a football town and paid no attention to its mediocre hockey team with no identifiable star. In those days, the thought that the Capitals would develop a passionate following and sellout crowds was unfathomable.
Alex Ovechkin was the first overall pick of the 2004 NHL Draft. Washington yawned upon his arrival as nobody cared about the Caps. As a rookie in 2005-06, Ovechkin scored 52 goals, and fans noticed. The team started to win, and the arena became packed with fans rocking the red.
NHL Teams
Eastern Conference - Atlantic
Eastern Conference - Metropolitan
Western Conference - Central
Western Conference - Pacific
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