The Washington Capitals aren’t just riding high because of Alex Ovechkin’s record-breaking season — they’re leading the NHL standings with 69 points after 47 games. On Thursday, the Capitals take on the Seattle Kraken, who are surging at the right time as they push for a Western Conference wild-card spot. Washington’s season has surpassed expectations. With five straight wins and an 11-game point streak (8-0-3), the Caps are proving they’re more than just Ovechkin’s scoring legacy.“We’re proud of where we are,” said head coach Spencer Carbery. “We’ll keep building and grinding.” Offseason acquisitions Pierre-Luc Dubois and Jakob Chychrun have been game-changers. Dubois is second on the team with 29 assists, while Chychrun leads defensemen with 13 goals and 31 points.

The Montreal Canadiens, riding a wave of momentum with a 13-3-1 record in their last 17 games, are seeking to continue their winning ways against the Detroit Red Wings. Montreal previously secured victories over Detroit earlier in their current streak, winning 4-3 and 5-1 in December. This will be the third of four meetings between the Original Six rivals. The Canadiens recently showcased their resilience, overcoming a two-goal deficit to defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2. This victory followed a 5-4 overtime win against the New York Islanders. Jake Evans scored the game-winning goal late in the third period against Tampa Bay. “I think we just have so much belief in how we play and no lead is too far

The Vegas Golden Knights, stuck in their toughest stretch of the season, head to St. Louis on Thursday to face the Blues in a rematch. Vegas is looking to break a four-game losing streak after a 6-5 shootout loss to the Blues on Monday. Despite the slump, the Golden Knights still lead the Pacific Division by a single point over the Edmonton Oilers. Coach Bruce Cassidy sees room for improvement, noting that costly mistakes in key moments have been the team’s Achilles’ heel. “We’re not playing poorly overall, but there are pockets where we’re chasing the game,” Cassidy said. Pavel Dorofeyev has been a bright spot, with six goals in the last five games, including the game-tying goal in Monday’s

The Minnesota Wild are set to receive a significant boost to their lineup as star forward Kirill Kaprizov and captain Jared Spurgeon are expected to return to action after missing time due to injuries. “It’s exciting,” said forward Joel Eriksson Ek. “Two very important players for us. It’s fun to have them back out there.” Kaprizov, the team’s leading scorer, and Spurgeon, a crucial leader on and off the ice, are both expected to play against the Utah Hockey Club on Thursday night. Coach John Hynes expressed enthusiasm about the duo’s return, noting the positive impact it had on Wednesday’s practice. Utah enters the game riding a two-game winning streak, having defeated the St. Louis Blues and Winnipeg Jets at