What a Difference: Capitals Become 1st to Clinch

This is what I've been waiting all month for. While I always celebrate NHL March Madness on the first of the month, the calendar turning from February to March only marks the beginning of things being interesting in the NHL season. Plus, I'm still kinda used to the regular season ending in early April, instead of mid-April. But even so, there is nothing like that first clinch of the season, and that's in any sport. While things in the final month of any sport's season get interesting, it's not until the moment where the first playoff spot is clinched that things get real.

The moment finally came on March 20, and the scenario was announced. The Washigton Capitals had the chance to clinch, and they had three ways in. Option 1: win in regulation, and anything except an Islanders regulation win against the Canadiens. Option 2: win in OT/SO and the Islanders lose (doesn't matter how). Option 3: get one point, Columbus loses, and the Islanders lose in regulation. Simple, isn't it? The Caps took care of business; after the Jackets were shut out by the Panthers in OT, Washington won 3-2 over the Philadelphia Flyers in regulation. That meant all eyes were on the Isles/Habs game, but the Isles were up 3-1 in the third period. However, two Habs goals led to the game being tied with under three minutes left, and the countdown was on. After a few stoppages, the third period ended with the game tied at three, meaning that an Islanders regulation win could not happen. The Isles won in OT, but even so, the game reaching overtime officially placed the Capitals in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Amazing, isn't it? Last year, the struggling Caps were the last team to reach the playoffs, doing so by surviving an Eastern Conference Wild Card logjam that included the Flyers, the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Detroit Red Wings. The Capitals needed Game 82 to get in last year. This year, they are the first team in and they got in during Game 69. Overall, this is Washington's 10th playoff appearance in 11 years, a stretch that included nothing but short runs that sandwiched a successful road to the Stanley Cup in 2018. Of course, last year, the Caps were the definition of "last one hired, first one fired," as they were swept by the Presidents' Trophy winning New York Rangers, and were the first team to be eliminated from the playoffs.

So the Capitals are in, but let's talk about the centerpiece of this whole season:

He's almost there, folks. In the Caps' 3-2 victory over the Flyers, Alex Ovechkin started the scoring in the first period. With the goal, the Great Eight has three copies of his jersey number in his total: 888. He is seven goals away from becoming the all-time leading goal scorer, and he should definitely reach 895 before the month of April, possibly. Regarding this season, Ovechkin's goal was his 35th, which leads the team. It's been quite the team effort when it comes to goals. Tom Wilson has 30 goals this season, and young upstart Aliaksei Protas has 29 goals, which included picking up his first career Hat Trick in Anaheim very recently. Dylan Strome has 22 goals, but his 67 points lead the team this year.

Goaltending has also been a huge factor for Washington. Logan Thompson and Charlie Lindgren have made a hell of a difference this season. Thompson has a 30-4-5 record with a 2.29 GAA, a .917 SV%, and two shutouts. As for Lindgren, he's 16-11-3 with a 2.63 GAA, a .901 SV%, and a shutout. The goaltending is pretty strong in DC.

So Washington is the first team in; one spot down, 15 to go. They will most likely finish first in the Metropolitan Division, marking their first division title since the 2018-19 season. However, this team has not won a playoff series since hoisting the Stanley Cup seven years ago. Even with the lack of certainty that the Stanley Cup Playoffs brings, that should change. But will this season end with Washington winning their second Stanley Cup? Time will definitely tell.