The Capitals have been eliminated from contention for the playoffs
Bailey Johnson
@baileyannej.bsky.social
Capitals beat writer @ The Washington Post
If last night was the last time Alex Ovechkin will leave the ice after a win at Capital One Arena, he did so with the fans chanting his name and the spotlight on his back. On a maybe-goodbye, Ovechkin's impact and threading the needle of uncertainty: www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2026/...
Capitals stay alive, and fans salute Alex Ovechkin
Sunday’s 3-0 win over the Penguins could be the star’s last game at Capital One Arena.
washingtonpost.com
Dylan Strome gets himself thrown out of the opening faceoff so that Ovechkin takes it against Sid. Sid, of course, won it clean
Ilya Protas will make his NHL debut for the Caps tomorrow night in Toronto, centering a line between his brother Aliaksei and Tom Wilson. Spencer Carbery said they had a talk this morning and decided that Aliaksei will be "Big Pro" and Ilya will be "Pro"
Aliaksei Protas will return for the Caps tonight against the Sabres after missing the last two games with an injury. Logan Thompson starts in goal
2-0 Capitals. A 30-goal season for 40-year-old Alex Ovechkin. Just unreal
1-0 Capitals. In his 900th career game, Tom Wilson scores
Didn’t see this coming, but I’m back at the Post to cover the final stretch of the Caps’ season. It’s been a really weird couple of months, but I’m grateful to have the work and be back doing what I love for the time being
New Cannon Balls podcast up at Spotify will hit Apple Podcasts soon. Guest is @baileyannej.bsky.social NHL Capitals beat writer for the Washington Post, laid off in the purge Wednesday. We talk journalistic upheaval and a bit of #CBJ and a touch of #Crew96. open.spotify.com/episode/73UV...
Cannon Balls S1 E7 with Bailey Johnson, suddenly former NHL writer for the Washington Post. Bailey, laid off Wednesday, talks of the upheaval at the Post and some Blue Jackets and Crew.
Spotify video
open.spotify.com
I was among the layoffs at The Washington Post today. It has been an absolute dream to be a small part of this incredible team. Covering the Caps has been an honor; being a beat writer is an all-consuming thing that I love deeply. I hope I’ll get to continue that in whatever is next
Dad strength! Martin Fehervary makes it 1-1 in his first game back after his daughter, Anna, was born Saturday
Logan Thompson (upper body) won't play tonight or tomorrow but the plan is that he'll play Thursday. Matt Roy (lower body) is questionable for tonight. If Roy is able to play, Thompson would be put on IR to clear a roster spot, but it changes nothing about the plan for him.
Very, very optional practice for the Caps today — players had the option of even coming to the rink at all — but Matt Roy (lower body, day to day) is skating, which is a good sign
Connor McMichael is week to week with an upper body injury, Spencer Carbery says.
Lindgren is in the net, but Stevenson just did some stretches before the shootout began
Charlie Lindgren looks shaken up. Clay Stevenson is gathering his gear
Charlie Lindgren looks shaken up. Clay Stevenson is gathering his gear
1-0 Capitals. What a shift for Nic Dowd, who laid a big hit on Axel Sandin-Pellikka, briefly tangled with Ben Chiarot, and then scored to put the Caps up in this one
Whoops sorry guys, got my French Canadian wires crossed. That should be Lapierre on the fourth line
Lines for the Caps in warmups in Detroit: Ovechkin-Strome-Beauvillier Protas-Sourdif-Wilson McMichael-Dowd-Leonard Duhaime-Beauvillier-Frank Fehervary-Carlson Chychrun-TvR Sandin-Chisholm
Lines for the Caps in warmups in Detroit: Ovechkin-Strome-Beauvillier Protas-Sourdif-Wilson McMichael-Dowd-Leonard Duhaime-Beauvillier-Frank Fehervary-Carlson Chychrun-TvR Sandin-Chisholm
Rasmus Sandin is on the ice for the Caps in warmups here in Detroit. Matt Roy is not
Logan Thompson is day to day with an upper body injury, Spencer Carbery says. He was hit in the mask with a shot during the game against Seattle on Wednesday
As Heated Rivalry has exploded in popularity, with teams across the NHL leaning in and more LGBTQ+ fans attending games, those new fans have questions about inclusion in the sport. "Is this just another way of pandering to people, or do we actually care?" wapo.st/4k9Vzk3
As ‘Heated Rivalry’ takes off, the NHL faces questions about inclusion
The hit show about a romance between two professional hockey players has brought new fans to a sport that has struggled with to welcome the LGBTQ+ community.
wapo.st
A lot of people just lost their hats here in Seattle. McCann's hat trick goal gets washed out by a penalty before the goal, which took a long review to figure out
Lines for the Caps here in Seattle, without Sandin and Roy (both lower body, day to day) McMichael-Strome-Leonard Protas-Sourdif-Wilson Ovechkin-Dowd-Frank Duhaime-Lapierre-Beauvillier Chychrun-Carlson Fehervary-TvR Chisholm-McIlrath Thompson
My favorite part of hockey is when a guy is trying desperately to prove that they're bleeding. Rubbing at their face and holding out their hand like "Look! See! Blood!"
Sandin didn't take a shift, stood at the end of the bench looking like he was trying to stretch out and shake it off. Has gone back down the tunnel at the first TV timeout
Sandin was slow to come back from the room but just emerged from the tunnel and took his spot on the bench.
This is now one of the weirdest 2-2 hockey games I've ever seen
This is the weirdest possible 1-1 hockey game I've maybe ever seen
Sandin was slow to come back from the room but just emerged from the tunnel and took his spot on the bench.
Rasmus Sandin did not return for the start of the second after blocking a shot at the end of the first and leaving the ice in obvious pain
Rasmus Sandin did not return for the start of the second after blocking a shot at the end of the first and leaving the ice in obvious pain
This is the weirdest possible 1-1 hockey game I've maybe ever seen