Washington, D.C

Caps Have Saturday Night Date with Devils in DC | Washington Capitals

Published

1 year ago

November 22, 2024

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Caps Have Saturday Night Date with Devils in DC | Washington Capitals

November 23 vs. New Jersey Devils at Capital One Arena

Time: 7:00 p.m.

TV: MNMT

Radio: 106.7 The Fan, Caps Radio 24/7

New Jersey Devils (13-7-2)

Washington Capitals (13-5-1)

When the Caps and Devils first met this season on Oct. 12 here in Washington’s home opener, New Jersey was playing its fourth game of the season. Six weeks later, the Devils are back in town for another Saturday night Metro Division tilt, and the Caps still hold three games in hand on New Jersey.

And in a fun scheduling quirk, the Caps and Devils are starting their second set of “back-to-back” Saturday home-and-home contests in as many months. After the Devils spoiled the Caps’ season opener here last month, Washington won 6-5 in New Jersey a week later, on Oct. 19. The Caps and Devils will conclude their season’s series next Saturday night in Newark.

The Caps come into Saturday’s game on the heels of regulation loss, 2-1 to the Avalanche in the opener of this quick two-game homestand. Thursday’s loss to Colorado was Washington’s first setback at the hands of a Western Conference opponent this season (7-1-0) and also its first regulation defeat in a one-goal game (3-1-1) in 2024-25.

Last weekend, the Caps started a successful three-game road trip out west with a 5-2 win over the Avalanche in Denver, a victory fueled by staunch defense and an opportunistic offense that feasted on transition. Six nights later in Washington, the Caps were still able to generate some transition opportunities, but they had much less success in solving goaltender Alexandar Georgiev, who came off injured reserve to make 26 saves, winning his fourth consecutive start.

And while Washington got another strong goaltending performance from Logan Thompson, the Caps spent more time defending in their end of the ice than they did in the earlier meeting in Denver, leaving less time and energy for attacking.

“I think we played pretty well,” says Caps’ defenseman John Carlson. “We got some chances we didn’t capitalize on, that have seemingly been going in for us. And with kind of a tough bounce against us, too, the game could be a lot different.”

The bounce to which Carlson refers occurred late in the second period with the Caps clinging to a 1-0 lead. With Colorado on the power play against the excellent Washington penalty killing outfit, Mikko Rantanen attempted to thread a seam pass from the right circle to Nathan MacKinnon at the opposite dot. The pass never got through; it clicked off Caps’ defenseman Matt Roy and bounded into the net, knotting the game at 1-1. Miles Wood tipped home a Cale Makar shot early in the third, and that was all the offense Georgiev needed.

“We were very average, and I thought their top guys were very noticeable tonight,” was Caps’ coach Spencer Carbery’s assessment of Thursday’s loss. “They controlled play, and they could have had three or four [goals]. They were on us pretty good.”

Playing without injured captain Alex Ovechkin for the first time this season, and with a couple of new line combinations as a result, the Caps weren’t as polished with the puck as they’ve been recently, so once again, they’ll be seeking to bounce back successfully from a setback, something they’ve done five times in five opportunities to this point of the season.

In the midst of the Caps’ recent offensive upswing and Ovechkin’s remarkable early-season heater – right up to the point of his injury in Utah on Monday – the team’s defensive consistency has gone a bit under the radar.

As they forged a 7-2-0 record in October, the Caps averaged 4.11 goals for (tied for third in NHL) and they surrendered an average of three goals against even, per game (tied for 10th). Ten games into November now, they are 6-3-1 while averaging a League-leading 4.2 goals per game. The Caps have trimmed their goals against per game to 2.5 in November, tied for eighth in the League. Washington has permitted two or fewer goals against in seven of its 10 games this month.

Last season, when the Caps managed to hold their opponent to two or fewer goals, they rolled up a 29-2-3 record. After Thursday’s loss, they are 9-1-0 in such games this season.

While the Caps tangled with the Avalanche on Thursday, the Devils earned a 4-2 home ice victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. When Washington skated away with the aforementioned 6-5 overtime win over New Jersey in Newark on Oct. 19, the loss started the Devils on a small 0-2-2 spiral. Since then, New Jersey has played to an 8-3-0 record, getting blanked in all three of its losses over that stretch.

New Jersey has been a well-balanced bunch in the first quarter of the campaign. The Devils are averaging 3.45 goals per game (eighth in NHL) and they are giving up just 2.64 goals against (seventh). They’ve yielded two or fewer goals against in seven of their last 11 games.

In 21 of the last 39 meetings between these two Metropolitan Division rivals, one or both teams have scored five or more goals.

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Washington, D.C

D.C. Police Chief manipulated crime data; new House Oversight report

Published

1 hour ago

December 16, 2025

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D.C. Police Chief manipulated crime data; new House Oversight report

TNND — A new report from the House Oversight Committee alleges former D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith pressured officers to manipulate crime data. The committee released the report on Sunday, less than a week after Smith announced she was stepping down.

You’re lulling people into this false sense of security. They might go places they wouldn’t ordinarily go. They might do things they wouldn’t ordinarily do,” said Betsy Brantner Smith, spokesperson for the National Police Association.

Included in the report were transcribed interviews with the commanders of all seven D.C. patrol districts and the former commander currently on suspended leave. One was asked, “Over the last few years, has there been any internal pressure to simply bring down crime statistics?” Their response, “Yes, I mean extremethere’s always been pressure to keep crime down, but the focus on statistics… has come in with this current administration.”

Every single person who lives, works, or visits the District of Columbia deserves a safe city, yet it’s now clear the American people were deliberately kept in the dark about the true crime rates in our nation’s capital,” House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer (R-KY) said in a statement.

“They are going to have to regain the public trust. Again, this is a huge integrity issue,” Brantner Smith said.

Among the reports findings, Smith’s alleged pressured campaign against staff led to inaccurate crime data. Smith punished or removed officers for reporting accurate crime numbers. Smith fostered a toxic culture and President Trump’s federal law enforcement surge in D.C. is working.

While Smith has not yet publicly responded to the report, she’s previously denied allegations of manipulating crime data, saying the investigation did not play a factor into her decision to step down at the end of the year.

My decision was not factored into anything with respect to, other than the fact that it’s time. I’ve had 28 years in law enforcement. I’ve had some time to think with my family,” Smith said earlier this month.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser also released a statement Monday, writing in part that “the interim report betrays its bias from the outset, admitting that it was rushed to release.”

According to crime stats from the Metropolitan Police Department, since the federal law enforcement surge started in August, total violent crime is down 26%. Homicides are down 12% and carjackings 37%.

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Washington, D.C

National Menorah Lighting in DC dedicated to Bondi Beach victims

Published

14 hours ago

December 15, 2025

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National Menorah Lighting in DC dedicated to Bondi Beach victims

The first candle lit on the National Menorah near the White House in Washington, D.C., marked the first night of Hanukkah — and solemnly honored victims of the Bondi Beach shooting.

The National Menorah Lighting was held Sunday night, hours after gunmen opened fire on a crowd celebrating the beginning of Hanukkah at Australia’s iconic Bondi Beach. Fifteen people were killed, including a 10-year-old girl, a rabbi and a Holocaust survivor, and over three dozen others were being treated at hospitals.

Authorities in Australia said it was a terrorist attack targeting Jewish people.

Organizers behind the National Menorah Lighting said the news from Australia, along with the bitter cold, forced them to consider whether or not to hold the annual event.

After consulting with local law enforcement, National Menorah Lighting organizers decided to hold the event and honor the victims.

Several D.C.-area police departments issued statements confirming there are no known threats to local communities, but are monitoring just in case.

Montgomery County Executive Mark Elrich condemned the attack and said community safety is a priority.

“Acts of antisemitism, especially those meant to intimidate families and communities during moments of gathering and celebration, must be called out clearly and condemned without hesitation,” Elrich said. “I have heard directly from members of Montgomery County’s Jewish community who are shaken and concerned, and I want them to know that their safety is a priority.”

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Washington, D.C

READ: Report accuses DC Police Chief Pamela Smith of ‘fear, intimidation, threats’

Published

1 day ago

December 15, 2025

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READ: Report accuses DC Police Chief Pamela Smith of ‘fear, intimidation, threats’

WASHINGTON (7News) — Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Chief Pamela Smith is facing yet another scathing report accusing her of manipulating crime data in the city.

The 22-page document from the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform comes less than a week after a separate draft report from the Department of Justice (DOJ) and days after Chief Smith turned in her resignation.

The main difference between the Congressional report and the DOJ report is that this new one, released on December 14, contains transcribed interviews directly with commanders from all seven MPD patrol districts.

RELATED | DC Police settles with former employee over claims that crime numbers were manipulated

The testimony reveals how Chief Smith chastised and, in some cases, publicly humiliated staff in crime briefings.

“The Committee’s investigation heard consistent testimony about frustration and exhaustion among MPD commanders and the manifestation of a culture of fear, intimidation, threats, and retaliation by Chief Smith. Often, these manifestations were triggered whenever the Chief was presented with what she considers ‘bad news,’ particularly when that news pertained to any rise in public crime statistics. Chief Smith, according to testimonies, regularly took action against her subordinates who failed to aid in the preservation of her public image,” the report states on page two.

RELATED | Trump announces probe into DC police for inflating crime stats amid safety claims

The committee launched the investigation in August when whistleblowers came forward with concerns about data manipulation.

One line of questioning in the report states:

Question: Over the last few years, has there been any internal pressure to simply bring down crime statistics?

Answer: Yes, I mean extreme… there’s always been pressure to keep crime down, but the focus on statistics… has come in with this current administration or regime, and you know, that has manifested publicly.

7News reached out to Mayor Bowser’s Office for a comment in response to the report. A spokesperson provided the following statement:

The men and women of the Metropolitan Police Department run towards danger every day to reduce homicides, carjackings, armed robberies, sexual assaults, and more. The precipitous decline in crime in our city is attributable to their hard work and dedication and Chief Smith’s leadership.

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I thank Chief Smith for her commitment to the safety of D.C. residents and for holding the Metropolitan Police Department to an exacting standard, and I expect no less from our next Chief of Police.

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