The Washington Capitals are hitting a critical stretch, and the timing couldn’t be more unforgiving. With four straight losses in the rearview and a playoff spot slipping further out of reach, the Caps are in Alberta for a back-to-back that could define the trajectory of their season. First up: the Calgary Flames.
Head coach Spencer Carbery isn’t sugarcoating the situation. “We’re running out of runway here quickly,” he said before the game. “We’re not by any stretch hitting the panic button, but the urgency level needs to be through the roof.”
He’s right to sound the alarm. Washington has fallen five points behind third place in the Metropolitan Division and sits six points back of a Wild Card berth. That’s not an insurmountable gap, but the margin for error is shrinking fast.
The latest blow came in the form of a 4-3 regulation loss to the Vancouver Canucks - a result that snapped an 11-game losing skid for Vancouver. That one stung.
Not just because of the outcome, but because the Caps once again couldn’t string together a full 60-minute effort. That’s been the theme during this four-game slide: flashes of quality hockey undone by costly lapses, especially at 5-on-5.
Now comes another test against a Calgary team that’s also been treading water. The Flames have gone 3-6-1 over their last 10, just like the Capitals, and are sitting near the bottom of the Western Conference.
But don’t mistake their record for a lack of danger. Calgary’s playing with desperation too - and that’s exactly what Washington needs to match from the opening faceoff.
Carbery is looking for more fire, more push, and more consistency - particularly at even strength, where the team’s been vulnerable. Execution in the neutral zone, better puck management, and sharper defensive zone coverage will be key if the Caps want to stop the bleeding.
There is a silver lining, though. Tom Wilson, fresh off his return from injury, logged over 20 minutes in the Vancouver game and looked like his old self. His presence in the top six brings a much-needed physical edge and offensive spark - two things Washington will lean on heavily as they try to claw back into the playoff picture.
In goal, nothing’s been confirmed, but signs point to Logan Thompson getting the start against his hometown Flames, with Charlie Lindgren likely getting the nod on Saturday in Edmonton. It’s a crucial back-to-back, and the Capitals need to come out of it with points - preferably more than just one or two.
The urgency is real. The runway is short. And if the Capitals want to keep their playoff hopes alive, the time to take flight is now.