Men’s hockey is officially underway at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina, as Martin Fehervary and Slovakia won their first game of the tournament, 4-1, over Finland.

Fehervary, wearing the “A” for his country, played 22:03 minutes, the second-most on the team, and had two shots and was on the ice for one goal against. The 26-year-old seemed to get into the rhythm of things as time went on, and plays a vital role on the backend.

He’s not only physical and reliable, but takes good care of the puck, makes good decisions and has awareness and hockey IQ that helped Slovakia control the tempo and keep Finland’s top names at bay.

More on Fehervary’s performance in my latest for The Hockey News.

Meanwhile, his Capitals teammates in Tom Wilson and Logan Thompson kick off play on Thursday as Team Canada faces Czechia. The Canadians have been making their rounds around the Olympic village, taking in speed skating action and using the metro, but will opt for hotel life over the dormitory-style rooming in the village.

Logan Thompson explained the decision to Sportsnet’s Luke Fox, saying that Canada wants to be in the best shape possible to approach the Games.

“I don’t think we’re doing it as an insult or anything like that,” Thompson explained. “We want to win gold, and we want to give ourselves the best opportunity to do so.”

Thompson’s role in the Olympics remains to be seen, as coach Jon Cooper hasn’t revealed his starting goaltender yet and will keep that under wraps until the opener.

Meanwhile, Tom Wilson remains on the top line with Macklin Celebrini and Connor McDavid, who have taken a quick liking to the 31-year-old and his style.

“He has so much more to his game than just the physicality and toughness he brings,” Celebrini told TSN. “It’s his skill and his finishing around the net that is really important.”

The Capitals are also sharing the moment with their families; Wilson is joined in Milan by his wife, Taylor, and 20-month old son, Teddy, while Thompson brought his mom and dad to watch him compete.

Since Fehervary and his girlfriend just welcomed their daughter, Anna, not long ago, he’s on his own, but keeping in touch with them each day as they support him from the DMV.

ARLINGTON, V.A. — Brandon Duhaime won’t truly take credit for taking Washington Capitals rookie Ryan Leonard under his wing.

“It was by default,” he joked with a deadpan expression. “I think no one else wanted to do it.”

Despite the quips, Duhaime has been more than happy to play a role in Leonard’s transition to the NHL, and the two have gone on to form a tight bond as the freshman navigates his first true rookie season.

Both Duhaime and Leonard are college hockey products, with Duhaime having made his mark at Providence as a 2016 fourth-round pick while Leonard starred at Boston College after going eighth overall to D.C. in the 2023 NHL Draft.

It’s Leonard who remains the go-to encyclopedia for all things NCAA in the Capitals dressing room, and that in itself helped kick-start their friendship.

“He’s talking some trash about B.C. being better than Providence, but if you look at the track record when I was there, I think we had their number pretty good,” Duhaime noted. “But that’s kind of how it all started was the connection through college, and just grew from there.”

From there, the two found more in common, translating to dinners together on the road, ongoing sewer ball rivalries and Leonard hanging out with Duhaime more often than not.

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The Washington Capitals, with the exception of three that are representing their countries at the Winter Olympics in Milan, are getting some needed time away from the rink.

Washington found itself in the throes of a rigorous schedule to open the season, playing 59 games and a league-leading number of back-to-backs in a condensed period ahead of the Olympic break. Now, they’ll spend the next week and change on vacation with family and friends, using this time to rest, recuperate and prepare for a vital second half.

“It’s been a grind,” coach Spencer Carbery said. “"Just with the way the season’s gone, with the injuries, with us kind of just trying to find it each and every night and it coming and going a little bit, it’s been a grind. So for me personally, it’s going to be some much-needed time with the family and to get away from the game. “Then, it’ll get to a point where… it’s going to take a pretty big push.”

The Capitals sit four points out of a Wild Card spot and tie for third in the Metropolitan Division, and with 23 games to go, they’ll have to pick up wins any way that they can, whether it’s eking them out or getting back to the high level of play that carried them to the top of the East last season.

That said, they should be in better shape; Pierre-Luc Dubois is skating over the course of the break and made his long-awaited return, and with that, Washington immediately got a big piece of its identity and scoring prowess back.

The team is still dealing with some ailments over the break; Connor McMichael is week-to-week with an upper-body injury he suffered in Detroit, and Charlie Lindgren is also recovering from a lower-body ailment that happened at the end of that same game.

Both are expected to make strides over the course of the break, though, and should be close to getting back to full strength as play resumes, marking the first time in early months the team has a fully healthy lineup.

That said, here are some thoughts as the Capitals take some time away, while Tom Wilson, Logan Thompson and Martin Fehervary represent their respective countries in Milan Cortina.

Capitals Takes

• Washington will have off through Feb. 17, when players can first return for an optional practice. From there, the Capitals will have a “mini training camp” to ramp up for the final stretch, and it’ll be a big opportunity for several players to take advantage of.

• Tom Wilson is already making his presence known at the Olympics, skating on the top line with Connor McDavid and Macklin Celebrini, but it’s his demeanor that’s impressed his teammates and coaching staff the most, as Jon Cooper told reporters in Milan:

  “Well, first of all, have you met him?” Cooper told reporters about Wilson, via TSN. “He’s full of life. He’s unbelievable this guy. He just lights up the room when he comes in. He’s extremely positive. He’s really driven. I see why he’s adored in Washington. What a teammate. So pretty fired up to have him. We all know what he can do on the ice, but he may even be better off the ice.”

• The goaltending competition for Canada still appears to be wide open, but I have a hard time imagining that Logan Thompson won’t get a look at the No. 1 role. His numbers have been stellar, and he played one of his best games of the year in the finale right before heading overseas.

• That said, he’s not focused too much on his role; he said he’s willing to do pretty much anything, even if it means handing out water bottles. He’s just excited to be representing his country, with his mom and dad watching from the stands.

• Martin Fehervary was named an alternate captain for Slovakia, and I think they’re one of the more interesting countries to watch in this tournament. Fehervary himself has gone under the radar as a physical, shutdown defenseman who can bring a lot to a top pair, and I think they make things harder on their opponetns all tournament long.

• Alex Ovechkin, meanwhile, is vacationing in Dubai with Russia not playing in the upcoming Games. He received a cake for his “road to a thousand goals” — he’s at 996 combined goals between regular season and playoffs. A pastry is no indicator of the future, by the way, so there’s no reading into it. Seriously.

The Washington Capitals have arrived safely in Milan Cortina for the Winter Olympics, as Tom Wilson, Logan Thompson and Martin Fehervary touched down in Italy and have joined their respective teams.

Wilson and Thompson got right to work, as Team Canada held its first practice on Sunday with NHLers officially in the village. Coach Jon Cooper has Wilson playing a key role.

The 31-year-old will kick off the tournament skating on the top line with Connor McDavid and Macklin Celebrini.

“Right to the penthouse with two amazing players,” Wilson told reporters in Milan, via Sportsnet’s Kyle Bukauskas.

It’s a bold move, but also one that makes plenty of sense. Wilson leads Washington in scoring this season with 23 goals and 26 assists for 49 points in 50 games. He’s quick and strong, a true power forward able to get to the dirty areas and put the puck home.

But, beyond the offense, his physical presence — he leads the Capitals with 132 hits this season — allows him to not only protect his linemates, but he can completely change the momentum in one game with a big hit.

That’s been seen on multiple occasions over the course of the last couple of seasons, most notably in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Montreal Canadiens and most recently against the Carolina Hurricanes en route to a 4-3 comeback victory.

Wilson also leads all Capitals forwards in average ice time per game (19:23 minutes), and is used to playing heavy minutes and a key role. He also regularly plays power play and penalty kill.

Ultimately, for those unfamiliar with Wilson’s game, the move may come as a bit of a shock, but it’s something that doesn’t surprise the Capitals. And going into the games, general manager Chris Patrick was hoping to see him get recognized for the role he plays.

“It’s great to see people finally appreciate what Caps fans have appreciated in him, the fact that he’s a top-line forward,” Patrick said, adding, “Brings it every single night. For a while, I just felt like all people want to do is talk about benign body hits that he threw in a game, so it’s good to see him finally getting the recognition for his complete game. I think Canada is going to love watching him play with the maple leaf ofn his chest. There could not be a prouder Canadian hockey player.”

ARLINGTON, V.A. — “Teddy does Milan!” Tom Wilson excitedly told me when I asked if the Washington Capitals alternate captain would have his family joining him for the Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina.

Wilson and teammate Logan Thompson will travel together to Italy on Saturday as they prepare for their first Games with Team Canada, but their families will also make the trip over.

For Wilson, wife, Taylor, and 20-month-old son, Teddy, will be in the stands as he looks to capture his first gold medal, something that makes the experience and “trip of a lifetime” even more memorable for No. 43.

“I’m really looking forward to sharing all that with my family,” Wilson said. “They deserve to be there just as much as I do. They’ve helped me so much, and they hold it done at home.”

Wilson has seen his son fall in love with the game of hockey early on; Teddy is often at the rink running around with a hockey stick in hand, a right shot like his dad (Wilson calls it his “emotional support hockey stick”). At bedtime, when it’s just Wilson taking over the duties, the two will read hockey books, one of the only things that calms Teddy down.

“He loves everything about the game right now. Hockey, ice, stick, puck, whatever. He’s buzzing and loves it, and it just brings a smile to your face as a dad,” Wilson shared. “I think there’s a joy playing in the NHL, it’s the best job in the world, but when you get to do it with your family and share it with the ones you love most, it just makes it even more special.”

While Teddy may not remember every sight he sees in Milan at such a young age, it’s a memory that he and Wilson will be able to share for the rest of their lives.

Meanwhile, Thompson, who doesn’t have kids yet, will be bringing his mom and dad overseas with him to cheer him on.

It’s been a long road to the Games for the Calgary native, who went undrafted and, even after being told to go to school and that he more than likely wouldn’t go pro, refused to give up and ultimately rose to prominence as one of the NHL’s top netminders.

Growing up, Thompson was all in on Team Canada, and watching Sidney Crosby’s “Golden Goal” on television, assisted by Thompson’s idol in Flames captain Jarome Iginla, inspired him to want to follow in those footsteps.

Now, he’ll get his chance with his parents in tow.

“It’s a dream come true,” Thompson said of getting to represent his country. “You know, I’m just going to go there and soak it all in and do any role they want me to, whether that’s practice goalie, backup, hand out the water bottles. I’m just going to be happy to be there and going to do whatever I can.”

Beyond Team Canada, Washington has one more representative at the upcoming Games in Martin Fehervary.

The Team Slovakia blueliner will be playing in his first-ever Olympics after a hectic road there. At the start of the season, he made his return from meniscus surgery, and then, after a long road trip out west, returned for the birth of his daughter, Anna, right before the break.

“It was really hectic,” Fehervary laughed. “It’s just a lot of things going on right now…it’s obviously hard, but it’s also exciting as well.”

Since Anna is so young, Fehervary will leave for Italy on his own, but plans to keep in touch and follow along with his family and newborn daughter back home. Before leaving, he’s also going to soak in as much time as he can with family before heading over.

“(I’m looking forward to) the atmosphere over there. It’s a first time having that kind of experience for me and the other sports and other competition and huge tournament playing against the best hockey players… it’s something really special,” Fehervary said. “It’s just something new for me. Overall, I feel like it’s going to be a great experience.”

The men’s hockey tournament begins on Wednesday.

WASHINGTON — As Pierre-Luc Dubois watched his shot hit the back of the net and the red light go off at Capital One Arena, a mix of emotions hit as he pumped his fist in celebration and waited by the boards to embrace his teammates.

It was something the Washington Capitals center hadn’t experienced in quite some time, not even earlier in the year when he appeared in six games while battling injury troubles. After missing the last 47 games following recovery from adduction surgery, Dubois put up a goal and assist to help not only lift his team to a crucial win, but inject some life and stability back into the lineup.

“Watching from upstairs, when a guy scores, you’re excited, but really being on the bench with everybody, the highs but also the lows and hearing the leadership group and guys when it’s time to push everybody in one direction or calm everyone down, that’s always really fun,” Dubois said.

While a multi-point outing is a good starting point, Dubois still feels he has more to give.

The 27-year-old admitted that there’s still rust to shake off and areas that he can fine-tune as he gets back in the swing of things, one of the reasons why he had planned an ambitious return to play ahead of the Olympic break.

“There’s a few times I thought I might throw up,” Dubois admitted with a laugh, also noting he’ll be sore when he wakes up Friday morning. “But all in all, it was pretty good.”

That said, Thursday was significant not only for Dubois, but for the Capitals, who saw exactly what having him at 100 percent can do for the lineup.

D.C. didn’t just get one of its top centers back; it got a major part of its identity back.

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WASHINGTON — The Washington Capitals are back in downtown for one final game before their Olympic break, taking on the Nashville Predators.

They’ll have most of their forward lineup back for the first time in a long time, featuring the return of Pierre-Luc Dubois after surgery and a 47-game absence.

Here’s what to know before puck drop.

Washington Capitals Line Combinations

As Pierre-Luc Dubois makes his return for D.C., Sonny Milano draws out due to personal reasons. Connor McMichael also remains out through the break as he deals with a week-to-week, upper-body injury.

Logan Thompson also makes his return from an upper-body injury, starting his final game before leaving to represent Team Canada at the Olympics with Tom Wilson. Martin Fehervary is also headed to Milan, representing Team Slovakia.

Clay Stevenson remains up and is the backup with Charlie Lindgren still out through the break with a lower-body ailment.

Here are the line combinations:

Alex Ovechkin-Dylan Strome-Ethen Frank

Aliaksei Protas-Pierre-Luc Dubois-Tom Wilson

Anthony Beauvillier-Justin Sourdif-Ryan Leonard

Brandon Duhaime-Nic Dowd-Hendrix Lapierre

Martin Fehervary-John Carlson

Jakob Chychrun-Matt Roy

Rasmus Sandin-Trevor van Riemsdyk

Logan Thompson

Clay Stevenson

Washington Capitals Stats & Storylines

• Anthony Beauvillier has goals in back-to-back games, along with an assist.

• Aliaksei Protas is on a three-game point streak, with six points in his last seven overall.

• Jakob Chychrun has six points in the last five games.

ARLINGTON, V.A. — For the first time all year, Pierre-Luc Dubois feels like he can finally skate at full speed.

The Washington Capitals center is finally making his return to the lineup on Thursday against the Nashville Predators after having been through the wringer over the course of the 2025-26 campaign.

“I started the year injured. I played those six games, finished four, and on those (last) four, I couldn’t even sprint,” Dubois admitted. “I was jogging out there.”

Ultimately, after navigating a handful of ailments to start the season, J.G. Pageau fell on top of him on Oct. 31 in a Capitals’ loss to the New York Islanders, leading Dubois to finally undergo adduction surgery.

“He didn’t mean to, but it was one of those things where it’s a perfect storm where I was already injured, and he falls right where I was hurting,” Dubois said.

This was the 27-year-old’s first time dealing with a longer-term injury and rehabilitation. It came at a good time in his personal life, as he and his wife welcomed their first son.

“The first month I was in crutches. My wife was taking care of two babies at home, there wasn’t much movement from me or him,” Dubois quipped. “It wasn’t the easiest for her, but she did a great job. To spend time with him to see the first smiles, first time he wakes up and sees you and he starts laughing, those kind of moments I’ll cherish forever.”

But, as Dubois said, “I’m a hockey player,” and now, he’s looking forward to being back after months of rehabilitation to get to this point.

It can be stressful for any player, but for Dubois, there admittedly weren’t a lot of negatives as he continued to progress and skate. And now, he feels 100 percent for the first time since last season.

“It was frustrating because I couldn't do the things that I can do now. To come back and actually be able to sprint and stop and start, not just stop, explode out of the corner, all those things that I wasn't able to do when I was playing, this will be a lot more fun,” Dubois said.

For his first game back, Dubois will slot in on his usual line with Aliaksei Protas and Tom Wilson, a familiar combination that the Capitals, who are trying to claw their way back into playoff territory, hope can provide some stability and consistency up front.

That said, though, coach Spencer Carbery isn’t setting expectations for Dubois in his first game back, as his primary goal is to start to get him back in the rhythm of things.

“That’s a lot of games and a long time. Getting his feet back under him, it’s going to take some time, the timing of it, handling the puck, the nerves of it, getting him back is a positive step, but there’s no ill-conceived notions of him coming in and putting a cape on and saving the world. It’s going to be a process.”

As for Dubois, he plans to use Thursday’s game as a stepping stone and go from there, and he will continue to skate over the Olympic break while working on different areas of his game and readjusting to the speed of it.

“I got a pretty good idea of everything to work on, timing, execution, you know obviously my cardio, my hands, all these things,” Dubois said, adding, “I can learn a lot and take that break to really hone it in… hopefully, it’s not a lot of games before I’m back to 100 percent.”

The Washington Capitals were quiet as the NHL Olympic Roster Freeze went into effect at 3 p.m. on Wednesday.

Besides sending Bogdan Trineyev back to the AHL’s Hershey Bears, general manager Chris Patrick stood pat, choosing not to make a trade or move ahead of the freeze, which goes through Feb. 22 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

During the freeze, no moves can be made. Waiver-exempt players can be sent down only if they a) haven’t appeared in 16 of the team’s final 20 NHL games before the freeze or b) weren’t on the NHL roster for 80 days prior to Jan. 21.

Players can still be placed on waivers. If any Capitals go on waivers after Thursday, they do not have to report to their new team until Feb. 17.

The Capitals were said to have been in the running for Artemi Panarin’s services, but the New York Rangers star ultimately went to the Los Angeles Kings, his preferred destination per ESPN’s Emily Kaplan.

Washington is still searching for a “higher-end skilled winger” that can provide more consistency and offense, and the team is also open to an option that could be a short-term boost to help crack the playoffs with potential to stick around, too.

And ultimately, a new piece could be the spark D.C. needs. After a rough go through the month of January, the Capitals have won three of their last four games, but still have work to do. They sit four points out of a tie for third in the Metropolitan Division and five points out of a Wild Card spot.

While Washington’s shown more of the urgency and identity it’s been looking for of late, goal scoring and inconsistency up front have been glaring issues, and adversity and injuries haven’t helped, either. Since Dec. 4, the team has the seventh-worst goals-for percentage (45.99) at all strengths and have struggled to execute and finish, though the chances have been there.

Just because Panarin fell through, though, doesn’t mean more names aren’t out there, and more are expected to emerge going into the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline, which is on March 6.

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It’s not often at the NHL level that goaltenders will start both games of a back-to-back series. For Washington Capitals call-up Clay Stevenson, it’s just another day at the office.

Despite the high stakes of Tuesday’s game — a must-win matchup with the Metropolitan Division rival Philadelphia Flyers as D.C. looks to return to playoff position before the Olympic break — Stevenson is calm and collected as he starts his second game in a 48-hour span.

“I’ve definitely done it many times and in Hershey,” Stevenson had said Monday, adding, “If that’s the case, I go. I have no quarrels. I’m ready always.”

Stevenson is up wtih D.C. on an emergency basis amid injuries to both Logan Thompson and Charlie Lindgren. Thompson is day-to-day with an upper-body injury, but is expected back Thursday; Lindgren was hurt at the end of Thursday’s shootout win over the Detroit Red Wings and is out through the Olympic break.

The 26-year-old has won his last two starts, with a .923 save percentage to show for it. He stopped 29 of 30 against the New York Islanders on Monday.

“I’m more comfortable, I suppose, for sure. Any experience you can pull off of and draw focus is going to give me a sense of calmness in the net, I guess,” Stevenson said.

And that’s the key for Stevenson: calmness.

“I don’t think you can rattle Clay Stevenson,” coach Spencer Carbery remarked after he pulled off his first NHL win.

Though he likes to play with a high heart rate (he insists he gets lethargic otherwise), Stevenson likes to have a clear mind when he goes in the net and emphasized the importance of staying composed.

“Just feel like my body is really calm and my mind is calm,” Stevenson said, adding, “I think it’s just a sense of calmness in the mind, (that’s) the biggest key for me.”

The Dartmouth alum credited his goaltending coach Juha Lehtola for helping him maintain that mentality, one that’s now helping him at the NHL ranks as he looks to fill a key void for Washington, while helping the team claw its way back up the standings.

“Goaltending is so cerebral at its core,” Stevenson noted. “When you’re reading plays and figuring out what’s happening on the rush or what could happen and you’re anticipating and you know something is about to happen… that’s a big one we talk about… (it’s) great.”

Puck drop is at 7 p.m. at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

Projected lines:

Alex Ovechkin-Dylan Strome-Anthony Beauvillier

Aliaksei Protas-Justin Sourdif-Tom Wilson

Ethen Frank-Nic Dowd-Ryan Leonard

Brandon Duhaime-Hendrix Lapierre-Sonny Milano

Martin Fehervary-John Carlson

Jakob Chychrun-Matt Roy

Rasmus Sandin-Trevor van Riemsdyk

Clay Stevenson

Garin Bjorklund

ARLINGTON, V.A. — The Washington Capitals have a few days to go until the Olympic break, and Tom Wilson and Logan Thompson are well prepared for the games in Milan Cortina.

Wilson broke in his Team Canada Bauer gloves and Nike pants at Monday’s morning skate, and was also wearing Warroad’s undershirt with neck protection, which is required at the games. Thompson rocked his new setup featuring a Team Canada mask, glove, blocker and pads.

The Capitals have three games to go until the Olympic break, and last play on Thursday against the Nashville Predators before Wilson and Thompson, along with defenseman Martin Fehervary, representing Slovakia, head overseas.

Washington’s final circuit before the break, though, begins with a meaningful Monday showdown with the Metro Division rival New York Islanders, who hold that third-place spot that D.C. is chasing down after falling behind in the month of January.

The Capitals will again be shorthanded, with Thompson out for Monday as well as Tuesday’s tilt with the Philadelphia Flyers (though he is travelling). The plan is for Thompson to play on Thursday. Connor McMichael (week-to-week, upper-body) and Charlie Lindgren (lower-body) remain out through the Olympic break.

Clay Stevenson will get the start on Monday, and Garin Bjorklund could potentially make his NHL debut Tuesday unless coach Spencer Carbery chooses to go with Stevenson twice in a row, something more commonly seen at the AHL level that he’s done multiple times this season and throughout his career.

Martin Fehervary, who welcomed a baby girl with his girlfriend on Saturday, will be back in the lineup. Matt Roy, who is recovering from a lower-body injury, is a game-time decision, and Thompson will go on IR retroactive to last Thursday if Roy can play.

Up front, Bogdan Trineyev will be the healthy scratch. Pierre-Luc Dubois is still working toward his return and was a full participant at morning skate, but is more than likely to return after the break.

Puck drop is at 7 p.m. at Capital One Arena.

WASHINGTON — The Washington Capitals are back in town after a long time on the road, but they’re still dealing with issues on the injury front and are working through a handful of roster moves going into Saturday’s meeting with the Carolina Hurricanes.

Connor McMichael is week-to-week with an upper-body injury he suffered on a cross-check in the corner in the third period of Thursday’s win over the Detroit Red Wings. He’ll be out through the Olympic break.

In addition to McMichael going on the injured reserve, Washington also placed Matt Roy and Charlie Lindgren on IR as they deal with separate lower-body injuries. Roy hasn’t played since Jan. 24 against the Edmonton Oilers, and Lindgren was hurt at the end of Thursday’s shootout win.

Not only is Lindgren out, but Logan Thompson remains day-to-day with an upper-body injury, though he’ll be better in time for the Olympics.

With both goaltenders hurting, Clay Stevenson is expected to get the start against the Hurricanes, and Garin Bjorklund’s been called up from the AHL’s Hershey Bears to play second chair. Bogdan Trineyev is also up from Hershey to help fill the void up front.

Martin Fehervary is out for personal reasons, as he and his girlfriend are expecting their first child.

Here are the lines for the Capitals:

Alex Ovechkin-Dylan Strome-Anthony Beauvillier

Alikasei Protas-Justin Sourdif-Tom Wilson

Ethen Frank-Nic Dowd-Ryan Leonard

Brandon Duhaime-Hendrix Lapierre-Sonny Milano

Rasmus Sandin-John Carlson

Jakob Chychrun-Trevor van Riemsdyk

Declan Chisholm-Dylan McIlrath

Clay Stevenon

Garin Bjorklund

Puck drop is at 5 p.m. at Capital One Arena.

For Hendrix Lapierre, Friday at the Saddledome felt like scoring his first NHL goal all over again.

It’d been a long time coming for the Washington Capitals forward, who had gone 90 games and almost two years since last scoring at the NHL level. Back in Calgary, where he’d last struck on March 18, 2024, he found himself in front of the net with the puck on his tape, and made no mistake for his first of the season on Flames goaltender Devin Cooley to lift all the weight off his shoulders.

“Good test of patience,” Lapierre told reporters postgame in Calgary. “Obviously, it’d been a while.”

It was an elating moment for Lapierre, but even moreso for his teammates, who clobbered him against the boards in celebration as the bench came to life.

“I love these guys to death,” Lapierre said of the celebration. “I’ve said it a lot, I consider myself very lucky to go to battle with these guys pretty much every other day. shows the friendship of our group and how everyone is tight.”

It was ultimately the spark that the sliding Capitals had needed, as it set the tone for a dominant final 40 minutes of play and eventual 3-1 win over the Flames that snapped a four-game losing streak.

“He’s such a good kid and he’s such a good person,” Tom Wilson said of Lapierre finally finding twine. “Not once did he come to the rink and be frustrated or take anything away from the team. Just a really good kid, he stuck with it and it’s a huge goal for us at this point in the season… just an awesome person, the guys love him.”

“It was big emotional boost for everyone. If you look at the bench, it says everything,” Aliaksei Protas noted, adding, “When we really needed it, he stepped in and scored. We were so happy for him.”

For Lapierre, it was also the breakthrough he needed, as he was rewarded with more ice time and also given the opportunity to play later in the game and defend the lead late.

It was something that coach Spencer Carbery was happy to provide, with Lapierre having put in the work and finally getting rewarded.

“Guys were going nuts… Lappy works so hard and he cares so much and he’s such a great teammate. Every guy in there pulls for him and is doing everything they can to help him be successful on the ice,” Carbery explained. “For that to come to fruition tonight and for him to score a goal, guys were ecstatic.”

It’s a step in the right direction for the 23-year-old, who is confident that he can build on Friday’s showing.

“Faith in myself, it never went away. I know what I can do in this league,” Lapierre said, adding, “I trust the work that I put in on a daily basis. Again, it feels good to get one, just got to keep going with the consistency now.”

The Washington Capitals will get a major boost to their lineup on Wednesday against the Vancouver Canucks, as Tom Wilson is set to make his return from a lower-body injury that’s held him out for the last eight games.

Wilson, who has been out since Jan. 3 when he collided with Connor Murphy and fell back on his leg, has been activated from the injured reserve, and Ivan Miroshnichenko has been loaned back to Hershey to open up a roster spot for him.

The 31-year-old said that he’s looking forward to rejoining the mix and doing what he can to help the team overcome recent woes, including a current three-game losing streak preceded by traded-off wins and losses.

“Feels like it’s been forever. Really hard to watch, especially at this time of year the games are getting super important. At the end of the day you just wanna be out there helping the team,” Wilson said. “Whether I’m back, whether I can play a full 20 minutes or whatever, I just want to (get back to) being on that bench and helping the team out any way I can and getting back in there. At the end of the day, it just sucks watching, so it’ll be fun to get back out there when I do.”

Coach Spencer Carbery said that getting Wilson back will not only spark the offense — his 22 goals and 42 points lead Washington — but also restore some of the competitiveness that the team has been trying to maintain over the course of games.

“We can go on for a while about what Tom Wilson brings, but maybe the most impactful thing on the ice (he brings) is just his intensity and competitive fire,” coach Spencer Carbery said. “Not that we don’t have any of that without him. He just brings such a large amount of that to our group.”

Washington had made some significant changes to the forward lines last game, most notably moving Alex Ovechkin to skate with Nic Dowd and Ethen Frank, a combination that Carbery told reporters in Colorado he thought was effective.

Puck drop is at 10 p.m. ET at Rogers Arena.

The Washington Capitals feel like everything right now is just off.

Pucks aren’t going in. There’s no consistency through 60 minutes. Any mistake ends up in the back of the net, to the point where even standout showings from Logan Thompson and Charlie Lindgren can’t steal a game.

But, amid a three-game losing streak, there’s one key piece of the puzzle, missing in action, that has been an up-and-down season that, at the stretch, has this team in a bind.

That’s Pierre-Luc Dubois.

Tom Wilson’s seven-game absence amid a lower-body ailment doesn’t help either, nor do the other mounting injuries that D.C. is navigating, but it’s Dubois’ void that’s perhaps causing the most problems.

Dubois wasn’t just a point producer, though a guy who can put up 20 goals and 60-plus points is something that the Capitals certainly miss up front.

He was the anchor on the top-6 that kept things humming, and where the consistency and foundation of the lineup sat.

His line effortlessly shut down other top trios across the league, and could strike the other way on a consistent basis for grade-A scoring opportunities. The 27-year-old' didn’t get on the scoresheet through the five games he played so far this year, but his underlying numbers told a story of a player dominating puck possession and driving play on the ice.

Dubois’ absence marked the start of some adversity for the Capitals, but it also took away a key component that provided stability and consistency with the lineup, something that, truthfully, Washington hasn’t had since the start of December, which also marks the last time the team won back-to-back games.

Justin Sourdif’s done what he’s could to fill the void, and has been a strong fill-in in that position, but since Dubois’ absence, the Capitals haven’t been able to rely on a consistent line for production on a nightly basis. Mix in everchanging combinations across the board, and there’s not enough time to really form chemistry.

It’s been enough to keep afloat for now, one point out of third in the Metropolitan Division, but not nearly enough to pull the team completely upstream.

So, what’s the fix?

Getting healthy is a good start, and Dubois, who underwent surgery in early November, is back skating and could return soon after the Olympic games, but ultimately, there’s not a magic wand or immediate solution for D.C.

General manager Chris Patrick mentioned that the Capitals are looking for a high-end winger, but one trade alone won’t solve things for the group.

Instead, it starts with addressing the foundation, and then going from there. And whether that’s a players-only meeting, more practice work or perhaps seeing what the current options in Hershey can do, remains up to the group.

At the end of the day, though, something has to give, and fast.

WASHINGTON — The Washington Capitals are looking to put an end to trading off wins and losses, and they’ll look to start that trend upwards on Saturday against the Florida Panthers.

Here’s what to know before puck drop at 7 p.m. at Capital One Arena.

Washington Capitals Line Combinations

The Capitals continue to deal with injury, as Tom Wilson and Justin Sourdif remain out of the lineup. Ivan Miroshnichenko is up from Hershey to help fill that void and provide some more offense up front.

Meanwhile, Jakob Chychrun, who missed Friday’s practice for personal reasons, will play, and Trevor van Riemsdyk will draw back into the lineup.

Logan Thompson gets the start.

Here are the line combinations:

Alex Ovechkin-Dylan Strome-Anthony Beauvillier

Aliaksei Protas-Connor McMichael-Ryan Leonard

Ivan Miroshnichenko-Nic Dowd-Ethen Frank

Brandon Duhaime-Hendrix Lapierre-Brett Leason

Jakob Chychrun-John Carlson

Martin Fehervary-Matt Roy

Rasmus Sandin-Trevor van Riemsdyk

Logan Thompson

Charlie Lindgren

Washington Capitals Injury Updates

• Justin Sourdif upgraded to contact and remains out and day-to-day with an upper-body injury after being struck in the face with a puck on Sunday.

• Tom Wilson has been a full-go at practices and is getting closer to returning, but will not play against the Panthers.

• Pierre-Luc Dubois skated with the group on Saturday in a non-contact jersey, is still recovering and is expected back after the Olympic break.

Washington Capitals Stats & Storylines

• Ryan Leonard has points in six of his last eight outings.

• tEhen Frank has goals in three of the last four games.

• Alex Ovechkin has goals in four of the last six games.

• Rasmus Sandin is coming off a three-assist performance.

• Dylan Strome has points in 10 of the last 14 contests.

• Ivan MIroshnichenko is back up to help fill the void and provide some offense.

• Washington is hosting its 10th consecutive Pride Night.

ARLINGTON, V.A. — With the season halfway over with, general manager Chris Patrick sat down on Friday to speak with the media, sharing his thoughts on the state of the Washington Capitals and more.

To start things off, he addressed just how much injuries have taken a toll, and how they’ve played a factor in the team’s inconsistency to date.

“This year, right away, felt like right away, Halloween, we lose Pierre-Luc (Duubois), which was a big loss to the group;. That kind of started the adversity,” Patrick pointed out, adding, “We’re still right there, standings-wise and the league is extremely tight… if we can get healthy and stay healthy, we’ll be in hopefully a good spot to make a push.”

Patrick also took the time to speak on the futures of Alex Ovechkin and John Carlson, areas where the team is looking to add and more.

That said, here are the biggest takeaways from Patrick’s press conference.

• Patrick has spoken with captain Alex Ovechkin about team-specific needs, but said there have been no discussions regarding a potential extension or his NHL future beyond this season. He’s focused on the short-term and helping the team return to the playoffs, so there is no update there.

• However, the Capitals have opened conversations with John Carlson and his agent, and they will continue to speak regarding a possible extension.

• Washington’s biggest need: “A higher-end skilled winger,” Patrick explained.

• The Olympic break could pose a good time for general managers to discuss potential deals as buyers and sellers begin to emerge with time, though the Capitals don’t want to give up high-end prospects or key pieces of the future.

• Cole Hutson is in a similar situation to Ryan Leonard’s last year; the team is giving him the space he needs to finish the season, and then will touch base with him at the end of the NCAA season. If he’s ready to make the jump, the Capitals will be happy to have him.

• Speaking of Hutson, the Capitals did check in about Quinn Hughes, though they didn’t want to pay the price of Hutson or a high-end prospect, which was apparently the ask.

• Washington has really liked what it’s seen from Ilya Protas so far this season, and he is among the players that the team wants to see up in the NHL at some point. Of course, the “right situation” has to arise for him to come up.

• When it comes to call-ups in general, Patrick did say that some of the young players and top prospects in Hershey could end up getting a look at some point down the stretch if D.C. is still in need of a solution to its offense up front.

• The reason they haven’t rushed Protas or others up to the big club yet: “You just ant to make sure you’re putting these guys in a position to have success intitally, especially if it’s their first time playing in the NHL.”

• Ivan Miroshnichenko has only played two games up with Washington this season and hasn’t been a go-to call-up, and the reason why is because of the injury at the start of the season, but also because the team would rather him be in Hershey playing rather than coming up to be a healthy scratch. “We want to try to get him in the lineup as much as possible.”

WASHINGTON — After a convincing comeback win on Tuesday, the Washington Capitals are in for another tough contest against the high-flying San Jose Sharks.

Here’s what to know before puck drop at 7 p.m. at Capital One Arena.

Washington Capitals Line Combinations

The Capitals continue to deal with injury, as Tom Wilson remains out while continuing to progress. Justin Sourdif is also still day-to-day after being struck in the face with a puck back on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Jakob Chychrun, who missed Sunday’s game due to illness, will return to the mix.

Logan Thompson gets the start.

Here are the line combinations:

Alex Ovechkin-Dylan Strome-Ethen Frank

Aliaksei Protas-Connor McMichael-Anthony Beauvillier

Brett Leason-Nic Dowd-Ryan Leonard

Brandon Duhaime-Hendrix Lapierre-Sonny Milano

Martin Fehervary-John Carlson

Jakob Chychrun-Matt Roy

Rasmus Sandin-Dylan McIlrath

Logan Thompson

Charlie Lindgren

Washington Capitals Injury Updates

• Justin Sourdif is day-to-day with what’s being called an upper-body injury after taking a puck to the face in Sunday’s loss.

• Tom Wilson has been upgraded to contact and is getting closer to returning, but will sit out one more game.

• Pierre-Luc Dubois is still recovering and expected back after the Olympic break.

Washington Capitals Stats & Storylines

• Ethen Frank has goals in three straight games and will play on the top line.

• Alex Ovechkin has goals in four of the last five games.

• Rasmus Sandin is coming off a three-assist performance.

• Dylan Strome has points in nine of the last 13 contests.

WASHINGTON — There’s no one who loves the Washington Capitals’ homegrown Hershey Bears products more than Brandon Duhaime. That’s why coach Spencer Carbery gave him the floor after Tuesday’s win to talk about Ethen Frank.

“Best player in the NHL. Hands down,” Duhaime declared.

Frank had a two-goal performance to extend his goal-scoring streak to three games and give him his first 10-goal season at the NHL level, marking another chapter in a journey that he himself feels needs better words to describe.

“It’s meant a lot. It’s been quite a ride,” Frank said, adding, “It’s been pretty chaotic, but it’s been a lot of fun, for sure. It’s a good start, I think, to my career so to call it in this league, and I’m just trying to keep taking steps forward every day.”

It wasn’t easy to get to this point for the Nebraska native, who nearly quit ice hockey as a kid because he didn’t think it moved fast enough.

Though he had a strong training camp, a lack of spots on the roster meant that he had to clear waivers and start from scratch in the American Hockey League once again.

After an impressive start with the Bears, where he first rose to prominence as an AHL All-Star, top goal scorer and notable speedster with a record 12.399 lap around the rink, and amid mounting injuries in D.C., Frank was called back up to fill the void.

“playing with him in Hershey, I’ve seen a lot of goal scoring from him,” Connor McMichael noted. “It’s nice to see it translate to the NHL.”

He had other plans in mind, though, turning his temporary stay into a permanent roster spot, as he showed he can do more than just put pucks in the net.

“It goes unnoticed, because the scoring and the speed and generating, it’s his bread and butter. It’s what separates him from normal NHL players… the other stuff, though, is what he has worked tirelessly on to make sure that he can earn a spot in the lineup every single night,” coach Spencer Carbery said. “He can be reliable, he can be strong on the puck, he can win wall battles, he can be aware and shoulder check, all that stuff he has worked tirelessly on.”

It’s shown on a daily basis. Frank is among the first on the ice to work with skills coach Kenny McCudden well ahead of practice, and after all of his teammates have left the ice, he stays on for extra work.

“He wants to see film and wants to constantly push himself so that the Ethen Frank, two years ago that maybe struggled a little bit with the little things inside of an NHL game, now, I don’t even notice.”

“He’s incredible,” teammate Matt Roy added. “Aside from his speed and skill, he’s a guy that, he shows up first every morning to practice and games, and he’s always working his bag off. All of us couldn’t be happier for him, he’s such a good teammate for us.”

Frank isn’t just a constant in the lineup anymore; with the Capitals needing to gain ground in an ever-tight Eastern Conference, he’s an asset, and has been tasked with working on the top line with Alex Ovechkin and Dylan Strome, which has so far, been a perfect fit.

“A lot of talk (helps). Those two obviosuly have the experience of a ton of guys combined. They’re obviously really smart, and they make it really easy,” Frank said. “Telling me where to go and where they’re going to be, it makes my job really easy.”

Now, it’s just a matter of him taking that chance and running with it, something he’s shown he can do time and time again.

“He’s worked his butt off his entire life for an opportunity like this,” Carbery said. “Nothing’s been handed to him.”

ARLINGTON, V.A. — The Washington Capitals got some positive news on the injury front on Wednesday, as Tom Wilson upgraded to contact and could be back in the lineup against the San Jose Sharks on Thursday.

Wilson was a full participant at the Capitals’ practice, which saw a handful players take the option for maintenance and load management. The alternate captain was also heavily involved in power-play reps as Washington looks to put an end to recent woes on the man advantage.

Jakob Chychrun also skated and was a full go. He’s missed the last two games with illness, but said he’s feeling much better and well-rested.

Justin Sourdif, who remains day-to-day with an upper-body injury after being struck in the face with a puck on Sunday in Nashville, did not skate. Pierre-Luc Dubois also didn’t skate with the group.

The Capitals host the Sharks on Thursday.