The Washington Capitals are integrating a new coach, a new system and a bunch of new players. Last week, they lost four of their best players, including their future Hockey Hall of Fame wing Alex Ovechkin to the COVID protocol. The injury also said two centers (Nicklas Backstrom and Lars Eller) were their other best wing (Tom Wilson). They are already without Michal Kempny and Henrik Lundqvist due to season-ending injuries. And, oh yes, some guy named Michael Sgarbossa was their fourth rule center tonight.
Despite all these problems, the Cardiac Caps do not continue to lose in regulation and sometimes even win. The Capitals have accumulated the points ladder in every game this season – a series of seven games – and are 4-0-3. With their thrilling last-minute victory over the Islanders, the Capitals jumped into the NHL in the first place.
Tons of adversity. Most points in the National. pic.twitter.com/klVZQ0FhhQ
– John Walton (@JohnWaltonPxP) 27 January 2021
The Capitals’ reign alone at the top began at 9:33 Eastern Time and ended an hour and 58 minutes later. That’s when the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Calgary Flames 4-3 at 9:31 Mountain Time and improved to 6-2-0 (they played on more games than the Capitals).
Eighteen minutes later, at 8:49 Pacific Time, the Vegas Golden Knights, powered by a hat-trick from Max Pacioretty, forced overtime and eventually a losing point against the St. Louis Blues scored. 5-1-1).
The Capitals thus ended the night tied for second place in the league. They are also in the first place in the MassMutual East.
The Capitals are one of only four teams that have not lost in regulation this season.
RMNB coverage of caps against islands
Screenshot with the NHL Standings page