Alexander Ovechkin
U.S. hockey player Haley Skarupa, front, demonstrates a drill during a hockey clinic presented by the Washington Capitals and the Professional Women's Hockey Players Association, Friday, March 4, 2022, in Arlington, Va. The growth of girls and women's hockey in the Washington area is still a work in progress almost two decades into a boom of youth participation in the sport credited to Alex Ovechkin and the NHL's Capitals.(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Girls hockey programs show promise in nontraditional markets

By Stephen Whyno Apr. 28, 2022 03:06 PM EDT

Pacific Division's Alex Pietrangelo, of the Vegas Golden Knights, left, smiles while taking with Metropolitan Division's Claude Giroux, of the Philadelphia Flyers, during the second period of a semifinal NHL All-Star hockey game Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Sam Morris)
Giroux named MVP, Metropolitan team wins NHL All-Star Game

By Greg Beacham Feb. 05, 2022 07:37 PM EST

T-Mobile Arena stands in Las Vegas before an NHL hockey game between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022, in Las Vegas. The arena is the site for this year's NHL All-Star game. (AP Photo/David Becker)
NHL All-Stars sad to miss Olympics, but happy to be in Vegas

By Greg Beacham Feb. 04, 2022 04:21 PM EST

FILE - Russia forward Vladimir Tarasenko wraps the puck around the goal against Slovakia forward Branko Radivojevic in the first period of a men's ice hockey game at the 2014 Winter Olympics, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2014, in Sochi, Russia. A handful of NHL players are voicing frustration over the decision not to allow them to go to the upcoming Winter Olympics in Beijing. Tarasenko said on Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021, he would have gone if given the choice. Keeping the season going while allowing individual players to choose whether to go was not something that was ever considered.(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)
NHL players vent frustration over being barred from Olympics

By Stephen Whyno Dec. 29, 2021 05:54 AM EST

Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron (37) and Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) meet in the handshake line after Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Sunday, May 23, 2021, in Washington. The Bruins won 3-1. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Boston Bruins at Washington Capitals 5/23/2021

May. 25, 2021 02:48 PM EDT

Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron (37) and Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) meet in the handshake line after Game 5 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, Sunday, May 23, 2021, in Washington. The Bruins won 3-1. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Alex Ovechkin confident he will sign extension with Capitals

By Stephen Whyno May. 25, 2021 02:47 PM EDT

Columbus Blue Jackets' Cam Atkinson, left, controls the puck as Chicago Blackhawks' Carl Soderberg defends during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, April 10, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
No cap crunch for Capitals, who land Mantha at deadline

By John Wawrow Apr. 12, 2021 03:31 PM EDT

Washington Capitals goaltender Vitek Vanecek prepares to catch the puck during the second period of the team's NHL hockey game against the New Jersey Devils, Thursday, March 25, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Ovechkin, Kuznetsov lead the way as Capitals beat Devils 4-3

By Stephen Whyno Mar. 25, 2021 09:52 PM EDT

Washington Capitals center Lars Eller (20) is congratulated by teammates after his goal against Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask, rear right, during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, March 3, 2021, in Boston. From left are Capitals Washington Capitals T.J. Oshie (77), Ellers, Richard Panik (14) and Zdeno Chara (33). (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Caps edge Bruins 2-1 in SO in Chara's return to Boston

By Ken Powtak Mar. 03, 2021 10:31 PM EST

Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (43) celebrates his goal with center Nic Dowd (26) during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres, Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Capitals get goals 3 ways, beat Sabres for 2nd straight win

Feb. 18, 2021 09:24 PM EST

Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (43) and Boston Bruins center Trent Frederic (11) fight during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, Feb. 1, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Bruins erase 3-goal deficit against Capitals, win 5-3

Feb. 01, 2021 09:45 PM EST

Boston Bruins left wing Brad Marchand (63) and Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (43) battle for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Ovechkin returns, scores in OT as Capitals beat Bruins

By Stephen Whyno Jan. 30, 2021 10:44 PM EST

Washington Capitals' Connor McMichael (24) battles for the puck with Buffalo Sabres goaltender Linus Ullmark (35) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Sunday, Jan. 24, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Linus Ullmark perfect in shootout, Sabres beat Capitals

By Stephen Whyno Jan. 24, 2021 06:05 PM EST

Washington Capitals left wing Jakub Vrana (13) celebrates his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres, Friday, Jan. 22, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Short-handed Capitals beat Sabres 4-3 in SO in home opener

By Stephen Whyno Jan. 22, 2021 09:58 PM EST

Pittsburgh Penguins' Jake Guentzel, left, puts a shot under the glove hand of Washington Capitals goaltender Ilya Samsonov (30) for a goal during a shootout in an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Canes' season paused, while Caps play on without 4 regulars

By Stephen Whyno Jan. 21, 2021 04:24 PM EST

Carolina Hurricanes goaltender James Reimer (47) celebrates defeating the Nashville Predators 4-2 with defenseman Haydn Fleury (4) after an NHL hockey game in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Jan. 18, 2021. (Andrew Nelles/The Tennessean via AP)
The Latest: Northern Colorado not playing Big Sky football

By The Associated Press Jan. 21, 2021 12:24 PM EST

Washington Capitals forward T.J. Oshie, right, celebrates his goal with forward Alex Ovechkin, left, during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres, Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
Ovechkin on COVID list, Caps fined $100K; Canes games off

By Howard Fendrich Jan. 20, 2021 07:43 PM EST

Washington Capitals forward Nicklas Backstrom (19) celebrates his goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres, Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
Oshie has 3 points, Capitals open with 6-4 win at Buffalo

By John Wawrow Jan. 14, 2021 09:54 PM EST

FILE - In this Friday, April 24, 2015, file photo, New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (30) celebrates after Game 5 against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs in New York. The Rangers won 2-1. The New York Rangers have bought out the contract of star goaltender Henrik Lundqvist. The Rangers parted with one of the greatest netminders in franchise history on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020, when they paid off the final year of his contract. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)
Goalies get shuffled in NHL free agency; Lightning depleted

By John Wawrow Oct. 09, 2020 01:04 PM EDT

Media get their temperature checked before covering the Edmonton Oilers NHL hockey training camp in Edmonton, Alberta, Monday, July 13, 2020. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
Pucks and masks prevalent as 24 NHL teams open training camp

By John Wawrow And Teresa M. Walker Jul. 13, 2020 11:49 AM EDT