Washington Capitals News

The Capitals, off to a 5-2-0 start, lead the league defensively, allowing only 13 total goals through seven games (1.86 GA / GP). Team goaltending has been a leading contributor to the Capitals' hot start, led by Logan Thompson. The 28-year-old Thompson returns to the crease on Friday against the Columbus Blue Jackets, looking to build on an impressive 1.60 GAA and .927 SV% through five games (4-1-0). The Capitals enter Friday's contest as slight -107 road underdogs against a Blue Jackets team coming off a dominant 5-1 win over the Dallas Stars.

Rempal is an undrafted 30-year-old forward that signed with the Capitals in the offseason after spending the 2024-25 season in the KHL, scoring 61 points (31G / 30A) in 68 games with Ufa Salavat Yulayev. He played four games in the AHL this season, scoring two points (1G / 1A) for the Hershey Bears.

Dubois has missed four straight, tending to a lower-body injury, but could return to the lineup on Friday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 27-year-old Dubois has been held off the scoresheet through three games this season. He had a career-high 66 points (20G / 46A) in 82 games last season.

Sandin was limited to only 15:01 time-on-ice in in Washington's most recent outing, likely nursing his upper-body injury, and did not practice on Thursday or travel with Washington on their upcoming road trip. The 25-year-old Sandin is averaging 19:24 time-on-ice and has two points (0G / 2A) through seven games this season. He is considered day-to-day for the time being despite not travelling with the team.

Milano has had spurts of impressive production at the NHL level, scoring 137 points (62G / 75A) in 317 games, but has been held of the scoresheet through four games in 2025-26. Ethen Frank will make his season debut on Tuesday, drawing in as Milano's replacement.

Sonny Milano will exit Washington's lineup on Tuesday against the Seattle Kraken, allowing Frank to draw in for his season debut. The 27-year-old Frank made his NHL debut in 2024-25, playing 24 games with the Capitals and recording 7 points (4G/3A).

The Capitals are doing their best to prove their Eastern Conference-leading regular-season record in 2024-25 was not a fluke, as they have stormed out to a solid 4-2-0 start in 2025-26. Thompson has led the way between the pipes, picking up where he left off last season, posting a stellar 1.75 GAA and .922 SV% through four games (3-1-0). Thompson returns to the crease on Tuesday, with the Capitals entering their matchup as significant -268 home favorites against a Seattle Kraken team that was defeated 5-2 by the Philadelphia Flyers last night.

Dubois will miss his third consecutive game with a lower-body injury and head coach Spencer Carbery said he wasn't sure if he'd be available for Tuesday's game vs. Seattle.

Trevor van Riemsdyk will return to the press box to serve as a healthy scratch on Friday against the Minnesota Wild, allowing Chisholm to re-enter the lineup. The 25-year-old Chisholm played 14:29 time-on-ice in his only outing this season and recorded one assist.

van Riemsdyk played all 82 games for the Capitals last season, recording 21 points (1G / 20A), but will be a healthy scratch for the second time through five games this season. Declan Chisholm will draw into Washington's lineup as van Riemsdyk's replacement.

Strong goaltending helped spearhead the Capitals into first place in the Eastern Conference in 2024-25, a trend that has continued early in the 2025-26 season. Through four games this season (3-1-0), the Capitals have allowed a league-low seven total goals. Thompson has led the way with a 2.01 GAA and .921 SV% in three outings (2-1-0), and will return to the crease on Friday against the Minnesota Wild. Washington enters Friday's contest as -121 home favorites against a Minnesota team that is clicking at an outrageous 47.6% on the powerplay through four games (2-2-0).

Dubois, who missed Tuesday’s game due to a lower-body injury, skated in a non-contact jersey on Friday. His limited participation, combined with the Capitals’ recall of Ethen Frank earlier in the day, suggests that Dubois is unlikely to play tonight vs. the Wild. Still, his presence on the ice is an encouraging sign that a return could be coming soon.

With Pierre-Luc Dubois (lower body) still banged up, the Capitals have recalled Ethen Frank for the Hershey Bears (AHL) for precautionary reasons. The 27-year-old Frank made his NHL debut in 2024-25, playing 24 games with the Capitals and recording 7 points (4G/3A).

Declan Chisholm will exit Washington's lineup on Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning, allowing van Riemsdyk to draw back in after being a healthy scratch on Sunday. The 34-year-old van Riemsdyk is averaging 13:47 time-on-ice and has a +2 plus/minus through two games this season.

Trevor van Riemsdyk was a healthy scratch on Sunday, but he will return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning, replacing Declan Chisholm. The 25-year-old Chisholm played 14:29 time-on-ice in Sunday's 1-0 win over the New York Rangers and recorded one assist.

With Pierre-Luc Dubois sidelined, day-to-day with a lower-body injury, Lapierre will draw back into Washington's lineup as his replacement. The 23-year-old Lapierre is averaging 10:03 time-on-ice and has zero points through two games this season. He will suit up on a line with Sonny Milano and Ryan Leonard.

Dubois exited Sunday's 1-0 win over the New York Rangers in the third period due to an undisclosed injury and did not return. He was also absent from practice on Tuesday, and will not play in the evening against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 27-year-old Dubois has been held off the scoresheet through three games this season. Hendrix Lapierre will draw into the lineup as Dubois' replacement.