The Washington Capitals ripped off 111 points last season, tops in the East, and did it with balanced scoring and a healthy blue line. Now they get a fresh 82 with prime-time dates scattered across the calendar, a trio of four-game homestands, and one long western swing that will test depth. Alex Ovechkin is also three goals from 900 as he enters season 21, which adds a little extra electricity to opening month.
Opening week and early markers
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Oct. 8 vs Bruins, home opener
Banner-worthy buzz without a banner. Boston is a clean measuring stick right out of the gate. -
Oct. 14–21, first four-game homestand
Tampa Bay, Minnesota, Vancouver, Seattle come through D.C. A chance to bank points before travel ramps up. -
Oct. 31 vs Islanders, Halloween game
Holiday spotlight and a Metro rival in town.
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Star power nights
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Nov. 19 vs Oilers
Connor McDavid’s lone visit. Speed check for Washington’s centers and gaps. -
Nov. 28 vs Maple Leafs, Black Friday
Auston Matthews on national-shop-and-hockey day. Capital One should be loud. -
Dec. 31 vs Rangers, New Year’s Eve matinee
A festive rematch vibe before the ball drops. The Rangers also come in Dec. 23.
The gauntlet road trip
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Jan. 19–29, six games out West
Colorado to Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Seattle, then back for Detroit. That is the season’s longest trip and the kind of stretch that separates home-ice hopefuls from wild cards.
Rivalry and playoff-flavored dates
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Jan. 3 vs Blackhawks
The Connor Bedard show hits D.C. early in the new year. -
Jan. 17 vs Panthers
Two-time defending champs come in. Forecheck and netfront battles will tell the story. -
Feb. 27 vs Golden Knights
Depth-on-depth matchup with Vegas on a Friday night. -
Mar. 20 vs Devils
Late-March Metro stakes usually live here. -
Apr. 12 vs Penguins
Crosby and Ovechkin at Capital One for the home finale. Circle it.
Homestands, back-to-backs, and the Olympic pause
The schedule includes three four-game homestands (Oct. 14–21, Nov. 22–28, Mar. 14–22) and 14 back-to-back sets, so goalie management will matter. The league pauses Feb. 6–22 for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, then the sprint resumes.
What it adds up to for Washington
Washington was seventh-best at home last season and scored in bunches in their own building. Stack early points during those October and November homestands, survive the January trip, and let Ovechkin’s milestones and special teams carry key nights. Replicating 111 will be tough, but the path to another top-three Metro finish is right there if the five-on-five defense holds and the second line keeps producing.
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