Ovi and the Capitals are back. Here are the dates to circle.
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Alex Ovechkin is back for another season with the Washington Capitals. (Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
The Washington Capitals begin their season Friday (Oct. 2) — Alex Ovechkin's 22nd with the team.
Why it matters: After Ovechkin appeared in a pro-Putin video last month, his reception in visiting arenas, if not at home, will be a storyline.
- Then there's the hockey.
The big picture: The Capitals narrowly missed the playoffs last spring, then attacked the offseason, adding Alex Tuch, Jordan Kyrou and Boone Jenner.
- The Hockey News ranked Washington as having the best offseason of any NHL team.
- The Caps also handed out long extensions to young players Ryan Leonard and Justin Sourdif.
Yes, but: Over a career spanning six U.S. presidential terms (fewer in Russia), Ovechkin has seen plenty of teams enter a season with big expectations and fall flat — and vice versa.
- "It doesn't matter how good you are on the paper," he said. "You have to show up on the ice."
And now: Under a new collective bargaining agreement, they'll have 84 games to prove it.
- That's two more than usual, the NHL's first regular-season schedule increase since 1993-94.
Here are eight spots on the schedule to circle:
Oct. 2 at Carolina Hurricanes: Let's see how this all looks. The Caps open against the reigning Stanley Cup champions.
Oct. 7 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins: Ovi vs. Sidney Crosby, Part 101 — this time in the Caps' home opener. They meet again in Pittsburgh on MLK Day, on national TV.
Nov. 25 and 27: Thanksgiving Eve and Black Friday are staples on the Caps' home calendar. This year brings the Flyers then the Panthers, plus a hockey-rink butter dish giveaway.
Dec. 3-15: Planning to watch all 84? This stretch will test you. The Caps play six straight out West, with the final four games — at Vancouver, Seattle, Colorado and Dallas — starting at 9pm ET or later.
Dec. 28 vs. Edmonton Oilers: Superstar Connor McDavid makes his lone annual visit to CapOne.
Jan. 12 vs. Vegas Golden Knights: Come for the Ovechkin "Hometown Remix" bobblehead. Stay for a matchup that might stir up some 2018 nostalgia.
Feb. 14 vs. Utah Mammoth: Nothing says "Be my Valentine" like an afternoon hockey game on Super Bowl Sunday. Or a Hello Kitty bobblehead available through a special ticket package.
March 15 vs. Tampa Bay Lightning: This is one of two Monday matinees on the Caps' schedule (the other is Dec. 21 in Toronto) — part of the NHL's push to put games in European prime time.