The Washington Capitals are the team that is one of the favorites to get their hands on this year’s Stanley Cup. And why so? Have you looked at their season? They are leading the Eastern Conference’s Metropolitan Division with 80 points after playing 55 games, where they have won 36 games, lost 11 games, and have 8 overtime losses.
However, with the 4 Nations Face-Off break going on, there’s a good amount of time that the Caps can use to get themselves ready for the next round of regular season games. And owing to this, a former NHL player has given his verdict on this opportunity for the players of the team.
So what’s this situation with the Caps? No one from the team is playing in the 4 Nations Face-Off. Any particular reason? “It comes at a good time with where we are in the schedule. And I think it just sets us up to give our entire group a good mental and physical reset. … We’re going to need every ounce of energy mentally and physically that we can find,” said coach Spencer Carbery. He is aware of the capabilities of his team, and with this particular break, making the most out of it will only benefit them in the NHL.
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As seen on X, in episode 544 of Spittin’ Chiclets, Paul Bissonnette also opened up on the situation of the Washington Capitals, stating, “Not only do they get to get the rest, but it’s almost like this chip on their shoulder like we talked about in the last two pods. Like, do you really believe in Washington if they played Carolina in the first round? Each one of us has taken Carolina. So, like, they have this chip on their shoulder going into the back half of the season. No Four Nations guys and kind of us against the world along with the Ovie goal chase. So what a f***ing story this team is for the whole year.”
The former NHL star is nothing but impressed with the strategy implemented by the Capitals. Indeed, for many fans, the 4 Nations Face-Off trophy doesn’t matter more than the Stanley Cup, and opportunities like the Capitals have in the current season are rare to come by. Furthermore, he pointed out that the Caps have more to chase than just the trophy, as Alexander Ovechkin is closer than ever to Wayne Gretzky‘s goal record.
Apart from the coach and the former NHL star, what do the Caps players have to say about this? Andrew Mangiapane doesn’t mind missing out on the 4 Nations Face-Off, stating, “I think internally and selfishly, I guess, for us, it gives everyone a two-week break, almost, to recover. We’ve played a lot of games here, so just to recover the body, little bumps and bruises, get the energy levels back up, and maybe that little extra rest maybe helps us down the stretch here and even in playoffs.”
Indeed, this particular break might be crucial for the Caps, who are aiming big. They have a trophy and other records to chase, which they can’t just afford to miss out on. And this is the main reason why Bissonnette loves the synergy in the team. With the team looking forward to not only the playoffs but also the all-time goal record, when can Ovechkin actually break it?
A possible chase for the Washington Capitals’ captain
After a few short days, all players will be returning back to the grind of regular season hockey. Indeed, the hockey action in the NHL will resume right after the 4 Nations Face-off ends, and the Washington Capitals’ captain will be one to watch out for. Currently, Alexander Ovechkin has 879 career goals, out of which he scored 26 in the current season.
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USA Today via Reuters Feb 13, 2022; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) handles the puck against the Ottawa Senators during the first period at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
The Caps captain has been one of the most consistent players for years now, and his team has rallied behind him with full support at every turn. But can he break Gretzky’s all-time goal record in the current season? With more than 20 regular season games remaining, it’s very likely that Ovi will manage to bag the 16 more goals he needs to surpass the Great One.
However, many of his goals have come under scrutiny from the community, as they were empty netters. But does that really matter? The answer is no because even Gretzky had his fair share of empty netters during his stellar career.
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These kinds of goals are also a part of the game, and even if the player scores under such circumstances, a goal is a goal. So with the remaining amount of games, there’s a high possibility that the Russian NHL star will be able to achieve his target in the current season, especially right before the Stanley Cup playoffs.
And with Ovechkin and his team sitting out the 4 Nations Face-Off, it may just give them the perfect chance to rest and recharge and hit the ground running in their next game.