This season's Washington Capitals are on a real tear! It's only January 14th, we're only just past the midpoint of the season, and only once all year have we lost two games in a row (the second of the two in a shootout!) Let's take a look at which teams we have played so far, and which we have not, and our record against each team.
Anaheim Ducks - We have not yet seen the Ducks this year. We see them twice; first, next Friday (1/22) at home, and second, at the Duck Pond on 3/7. Verdict: Unknown. Anaheim's current record is 18-18-7, putting them at 24th in the league, with 43 points.
Arizona Coyotes - The 'Yotes are another team we still have yet to face. Our first matchup with Arizona comes on 2/22, and the second, on 4/2. Verdict: Unknown. Arizona's current record is 22-16-4, putting them 12th in the league, with 48 points.
Boston Bruins - We face Boston three times this year. Our first action against the Bruins came on 11/5 (a 4-1 win). The second game was on 1/5, and also resulted in a win (3-2). Our third game will be on 3/5. Verdict: Caps victorious in season series with one game remaining. Boston's current record is 21-16-5 for 47 points, putting them in 14th place in the league.
Buffalo Sabres - We also play Buffalo three times this year. The first game was on 12/28, and was a 2-0 shutout win. The second came on 12/30 (a home-and-home with a day between games), and was a 5-2 win. We will see them again on Saturday 1/16. Verdict: Caps victorious in season series with one game remaining. Buffalo's current record is 17-23-4, placing them very near the bottom of the league at 28th, tied in points with Edmonton, but ahead of them by virtue of fewer games played.
Calgary Flames - On 10/30, the Caps beat the Flames with a final score of 6-2. On 11/13, the game went the other way, with the Caps falling in a 3-2 overtime decision. We have completed our series against Calgary, roundly defeating them in the goal differential category, but otherwise tied in the win-loss column. Verdict: Season series tied; Caps have the advantage in goals scored, even so. Calgary's record this season is 20-20-2, good for 42 points and 25th in the league.
Carolina Hurricanes - The Caps will face Carolina four times this season. Our first meeting was on 10/17, and resulted in a 4-1 win. The second came a little over a month later, on 12/21, and was a 2-1 win. The third meeting, on 12/31, saw a rare Capitals loss, with a final score of 4-2 in Carolina's favor. The fourth and final meeting will be on 3/15. Verdict: Undetermined, but the Caps are up 3 games to 1 so far. Carolina's record this season is 19-18-7, good for 45 points, and 21st in the league.
Chicago Blackhawks - When the Capitals faced last season's Stanley Cup champion team first, in their third game of the season, they turned around after a 5-0 drubbing at the hands of the Sharks to hand the 'Hawks a 4-1 defeat. We see Chicago again on 2/28. Verdict: Undetermined, but the Caps have won the first meeting. Chicago's current record is 28-13-4 for 60 points, 7 points behind the first place Capitals, and in third place in the league, two points behind Dallas (62 points).
Colorado Avalanche - On 11/21, the Caps handed the Avalanche a 7-3 loss. We will visit them for the conclusion of the season series on 4/1.
Verdict: Undetermined, but the Caps have won the first meeting. Colorado is not quite as egregiously among the bottom-feeders as they have been in previous years; their record is 21-20-3, putting them 20th in the league, just a hair out of the top 2/3.
Columbus Blue Jackets - The 10/30 game was a 2-1 Washington victory. We face Columbus four tmes this season. In the second meeting of the two teams, Washington fell 5-4 in the shootout on 2/2 (the only time the Caps have lost two games in a row this season). The Caps will face the Jackets again on 1/19, and 3/28. Verdict: Undetermined; series is tied at 1-1, with both teams scoring 6 goals in the series so far. This one's going to be a series to watch closely! This is a frightening thought, because poor Columbus is sitting dead last in the league, with a 16-25-4 record, good for 36 points to put them behind the woebegotten Maple Leafs (39 points), Sabres, and Oilers (38 points).
Dallas Stars - The 11/19 meeting between the Stars and the Caps was a 3-2 loss. The Caps face the Stars again on 2/13. Verdict: Undetermined; this one will be close, though; so far, this is the only team that has beaten Washington, that Washington has yet to beat. Dallas currently sits just behind the Capitals - OK, 5 points behind the Capitals, who have two games in hand, with a 29-11-4 record and 62 points.
Detroit Red Wings - The Red Wings handed the Caps a 1-0 shutout loss in regulation on 11/10, but were defeated 2-1 in overtime a few days later on 11/18. The third meeting resulted in a 3-2 shootout win for the Caps. Verdict: Caps win the season series, 2 games to 1, and also win in goal differential, 5-4. Detroit's record this season is so far 22-14-7, good for 51 points, placing them in the middle of a three-way points tie with the Islanders and Rangers, our hated New York foes.
Edmonton Oilers - On 10/23, the Caps handed the Oilers a 7-4 loss at Verizon Center, and then on 11/23, the Caps posted a 1-0 shutout decision. Verdict: Caps win the season series, 2 games to 0, and also win in goal differential, 8-4. Poor Edmonton is sitting just outside last place in the league (again) with a 17-23-4 record and 38 points. They are behind the Sabres by virtue of having played in one more game.
Florida Panthers - Halloween (10/31) saw the Caps defeat the Panthers 2-1 in overtime. The second meeting, on 12/10, was a Caps loss (4-1 final). The teams meet for the third and final time on 2/2. Verdict: Unknown; this one will be close. The series is tied 1-1, but the Panthers have the edge in goals scored, 5-3. Florida's current record is 26-13-5, putting them in a three way points tie with Los Angeles (who have the edge in regulation and overtime wins) and St. Louis, who have one fewer in that category than Florida.
Los Angeles Kings - The Caps will face the Kings for the first time on 2/16, and the second time on 3/9. Verdict: Unknown. The Kings' current record is 27-12-3, good for 57 points and a three-way tie for fifth in the league.
Minnesota Wild - The Caps face the Wild twice in February, once on 2/11, and the second time on 2/26. Verdict: Unknown. Minnesota's current record is 22-13-8, which puts them with 52 points, in 7th place in the league.
Montreal Canadiens - The Caps beat the Habs on 12/3 with a final score of 3-2. On 12/26, the Caps won again, 3-1. The third and final meeting of the season will be on 2/24. Verdict: Caps win the series, having defeated the Habs in two of their three meetings, with the third meeting yet to be decided. The Habs' current record is 23-17-3, placing them 11th in the league, right behind the Islanders.
Nashville Predators - The Caps have yet to face the Preds this season; our first meeting comes on 2/9, and our second and final on 3/18. Verdict: Unknown. The Predators' current record is 19-15-7, good for 45 points and a three-way tie for 18th with Philadelphia slightly edging them, and slightly edging the Hurricanes themselves.
New Jersey Devils - In the season opener this year, the Capitals beat the Devils 5-3. We see them twice in February (2/6 there, 2/20 here), and once in March (3/25). Verdict: Unknown - only played one game so far. The Devils' current record is 21-18-5, which puts them in 15th place with 47 points (tied with the Boston Bruins, who are in 14th, by virtue of their two games in hand).
New York Islanders - Ah, the Isles. The Isles. On 1/7, we beat them 4-1. We next see them on 2/4, 2/18, and 3/5. Verdict: Unknown - only played one game so far. The Islanders' current record of 23-15-5 puts them with 51 points, 10th place, behind the Rangers (8th, also with 51 points) and Red Wings (9th, same).
New York Rangers - It seems like the Rangers are our annual foes that knock us out of the playoffs with a rudeness matched only by ... well, I don't know what's quite that rude! Our first game, on 11/3, was a 5-2 loss. On 12/20, we beat them right back, with a final score of 7-3, then on 1/9, we beat them again, this time in overtime, with a final score of 4-3. We face the Rangers two more times before the annual postseason rumble: 1/17 and 3/4. Verdict: Unknown, but the Capitals lead the series 2 games to 1 (in a best-of-five). The Rangers sit in 8th place in the league, with a 23-14-5 record and 51 points.
Ottawa Senators - The Battle of the Capitals and Senators this season has been one of Capitals dominance. The first game, on 10/16, was a 2-1 Capitals win; however, last week, on 1/10, the Capitals laid a touchdown on those Senators, beating them 7-1. The final game between these two clubs comes on 3/22. Verdict: The Caps win the series 2-?, with the final game to be decided. The Senators are at present sitting just under Pittsburgh, at 17th in the league, with a 20-18-6 record and 46 points (also Pittsburgh's point total, but the Evil Flightless Fowl have two games in hand.)
Philadelphia Flyers - In their first meeting of four, on 11/12, the Capitals beat the Flyers 5-2. The next three meetings will take place on 1/27, 2/7, and 3/30. Verdict: Unknown - only played one game so far. The Flyers' record of 19-15-7 puts them in 18th place, with 45 points.
Pittsburgh Penguins - In their first meeting, the Pens beat the Caps on 10/28 with a score of 3-1. In game 2, on 12/14, the Caps returned the favor and then some, with a 4-1 victory. Game 3 will be played on 1/24, and game 4 on 3/20. Veridct: Unknown - series tied at 1, Caps have advantage in goals scored, 5-4. The 'Guins record of 20-16-6 gives them 46 points, and 16th place in the league.
San Jose Sharks - In their first meeting, the Caps's second game of the season, the Sharks dominated, and put together a 5-0 win. We meet again, in the Shark Tank, on 3/12. Verdict: Unknown - only played one game so far, but the Sharks are now the second team that has beaten the Capitals in their only game to date of the season. The Sharks' record of 21-18-2 puts them in the bottom third of the league, at 21st place.
St. Louis Blues - The Caps have yet to face the Blues this season; we see them on 3/26 and at our final game of the season, on 4/9 in St. Louis. Verdict: Unknown. The Blues' record at present is 25-14-7, which places them 6th in the league.
Tampa Bay Lightning - The Capitals face the Lighting three times this season. In their first meeting, on 11/27, the Caps beat them 4-2. The second was a 2-1 victory on 12/12). And finally, in their third meeting, on 12/18, the Caps beat the Lightning 5/3. Verdict: Not bad, against the team that won the Eastern Conference last year and faced the Blackhawks down in the Stanley Cup Finals. Caps win the series 3-0. The Lightning's record this season is 22-17-4, which puts them in 13th place in the league , behind Arizona, who has one game in hand, but the same number of points (48).
Vancouver Canucks - On their first meeting (10/22), the Capitals beat the Canucks by a score of 3-2. We face them again for the second time tonight. Verdict: Unknown - but we'll know soon enough! With a record of 17-16-10, the 'Nucks have 44 points, which places them 23rd in the league, right behind San Jose, who have a game in hand.
Winnipeg Jets - The Capitals played the Jets twice this season. The first time, on 11/25, they won 5-3, and the second, lost 3-2 in the shootout. Verdict: The series ended tied in the win department, but in the goals scored department, the Caps come out on top, with 7 to the Lightning's 5. The Lightning's record of 22-17-4 gives them 48 points and 13th place, just behind Arizona, who also have 48 points, but have a game in hand.
So..........
Teams the Caps have Yet to Face This Season
1. Anaheim
2. Arizona
3. Los Angeles
4. Minnesota
5. St. Louis
Teams the Caps have Won the Season Series (all games played)
1. Detroit (2 games to 1)2. Edmonton (2 games to 0)
3. Tampa Bay (3 games to 0)
Teams the Caps have Won the Season Series (games left to play)
1. Boston (2 games to 0, 1 game remaining)
2. Buffalo (2 games to 0, 1 game remaining)
3. Carolina (3 games to 1, 1 game remaining)
4. Montreal (2 games to 0, 1 game remaining)
5. Ottawa (2 games to 0, 1 game remaining)
Teams the Caps have the Advantage Over (with games left to play)
1. Chicago (1 game to 0, one game remaining)
2. Colorado (1 game to 0, one game remaining)
3. New Jersey (1 game to 0, two games remaining)
4. NY Islanders (1 game to 0, three game remaining)
5. NY Rangers (2 games to 1, two games remaining)
6. Philadelphia (1 game to 0, three games remaining)
7. Vancouver (1 game to 0, one game remaining)
Teams the Season Ended Tied With
1. Calgary (1-1 in games played; Caps advantage 8-5 in goals scored)
2. Columbus (1-1 in games played; 6-6 in goals scored)
3. Winnipeg (1-1 in games played, Caps advantage 7-5 in goals scored)
Teams the Caps are Tied With, with Tiebreaker Left
1. Florida (1-1 in games played, 5-3 Panthers in goals scored, 1 game remaining)
2. Pittsburgh (1-1 in games played, 5-4 Caps in goals scored, 2 games remaining)
Teams that Have the Advantage over the Caps
1. Dallas (1 game to 0, 1 game remaining)
2. San Jose (1 game to 0, 1 game remaining)
Can't wait for the Vancouver game tonight!!!
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