EDMONTON — With 19 games left in their season, the Washington Capitals still sit within striking distance of a playoff spot. Their odds of making it in remain low, but they aren’t quite out of the race yet.
Washington
The Caps, focused on staying in the moment, try to avoid playoff math
That’s true of the Capitals, who are insistent upon that mentality heading down the stretch.
“We’re just going one, today,” Coach Spencer Carbery said Monday morning before Washington opened a five-game road trip in Winnipeg. “That’s kind of been our approach of late, just trying to — I get setting the tone, the travel, looking ahead, it’s five games, all this. ‘If you can get a certain amount of points out of this road trip,’ I understand that, and we’ll leave that for the outside world. We’re just trying to focus on winning one game and playing well in Winnipeg tonight. Then we’ll figure things out tomorrow.”
It didn’t work out that night. The Capitals were handed a 3-0 loss, marking the sixth time they’ve been shut out this season, and were a step behind the pace throughout the game.
“There’s a lot of things that we can learn from in this game,” winger Beck Malenstyn said afterward. “It’s obviously a top team in the league, and we want to be at that same level. Something for us to look at, go to practice tomorrow and iron some things out. … I think it was close tonight. It’s not maybe as bad as it seems, but there’s definitely some things we can fix.”
And when Washington took the ice for practice Tuesday, before playing the Oilers on Wednesday, the focus was exclusively on what needs to be better against Edmonton, without peeking ahead to Thursday’s game in Seattle.
As external discussions largely focus on the path to the playoffs and what it would take for the Capitals to get there, inside the dressing room, the players and coaching staff remain steadfast in their approach. That path, for what it’s worth, is a difficult one. Washington plays the majority of its remaining games against teams that currently hold a playoff spot.
“Of course,” winger Max Pacioretty said when asked if it’s really possible to only think about one game at a time. “I can’t speak for everyone, but you learn that as the years go on. Nothing’s guaranteed [about] tomorrow, whether it be playing another team or our health or even our lives. I don’t look at anything any other way, and especially with the position we’re in, it’s even more important to have that mind-set. We’re playing against a team that is — if you’re worried about tomorrow or a week from now, they’ll make you pay.
“ … I guarantee some young guys probably look at standings at night and other teams’ schedules and try to do the math as to what has to add up. But the difference between these games right now is that extra five, 10 percent, so if you’re going to go out there with the full intentions to win a hockey game, you’ve got to be fully invested in that one game itself.”
“We understand the ramifications of every game we go into, but honestly, I think with that pressure, it probably does make it a lot easier,” Malenstyn added. “You’re able to come into every game understanding the importance of those two points and what those are going to do for us moving forward. We’re not in a position where we’re by any means out of it, but we definitely want to keep working to stay in that fight.
“We’re right there on the cusp, so I think it definitely allows you to kind of stay in the moment and understand the importance of every night.”
In recent weeks, as Washington has started to string a solid run of form together, bad nights have become one-offs. The Capitals aren’t perfect every night — look no further than the 8-3 loss in Detroit two weeks ago or a 5-2 loss at home to the Arizona Coyotes on March 3 as proof — but they’ve rebounded from bad games with a good performance in the next one, without letting poor results turn into a downward spiral.
That ability to bounce back will be particularly important when Washington faces the Oilers, who feature two of the best players in the league in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, on Wednesday. The Capitals may be taking things one game at a time, but they’re also running out of runway to make a strong push.
“I think we’ve taken that challenge on all year and really been able to put our best foot forward coming out of these situations,” Malenstyn said. “For us, obviously, it’s not bad game, regroup, have another one, regroup. We really do want to start putting those stretches of wins together, and it starts with [Wednesday] night. It’s going to be a great hockey team that we’re playing. But for us, we go back, we look through what we probably wanted to change [Monday] night in Winnipeg. And you know what? There’s a lot of things we could’ve done better.
“It was an uncharacteristic game from our group. I definitely think we’re going to get our best effort, and if we can continue to do that and build off that, I think we can put a good stretch together.”
Washington
Washington National Opera cuts ties with the Kennedy Center after longstanding partnership | CNN Politics
The Washington National Opera on Friday announced it is parting ways with the Kennedy Center after more than a decade with the arts institution.
“Today, the Washington National Opera announced its decision to seek an amicable early termination of its affiliation agreement with the Kennedy Center and resume operations as a fully independent nonprofit entity,” the opera said in a statement.
The decoupling marks another high-profile withdrawal since President Donald Trump and his newly installed board of trustees instituted broad thematic and cosmetic changes to the building, including renaming the facility “The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.”
The opera said it plans to “reduce its spring season and relocate performances to new venues.”
A source familiar with the dynamic told CNN the decision to part ways was made by the opera’s board and its leadership, and that the decision was not mutual.
A spokesperson for the Kennedy Center said in a statement, “After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to part ways with the WNO due to a financially challenging relationship. We believe this represents the best path forward for both organizations and enables us to make responsible choices that support the financial stability and long-term future of the Trump Kennedy Center.”
Kennedy Center president Richard Grenell, who was appointed by Trump’s hand-picked board, said on X, “Having an exclusive relationship has been extremely expensive and limiting in choice and variety.”
Grenell added, “Having an exclusive Opera was just not financially smart. And our patrons clearly wanted a refresh.”
Since taking the reins at the center, Grenell has cut existing staff, hired political allies and mandated a “break-even policy” for every performance.
The opera said the new policy was a factor in its decision to leave the center.
“The Center’s new business model requires productions to be fully funded in advance—a requirement incompatible with opera operations,” the opera said.
Francesca Zambello, the opera’s artistic director, said she is “deeply saddened to leave The Kennedy Center.”
“In the coming years, as we explore new venues and new ways of performing, WNO remains committed to its mission and artistic vision,” she said.
The New York Times first reported the opera’s departure.
Founded in 1956 as the “Opera Society of Washington,” the group has performed across the district, taking permanent residency in the Kennedy Center in 2011.
The performing arts center has been hit with a string of abrupt cancellations from artists in recent weeks including the jazz group The Cookers and New York City-based dance company Doug Varone and Dancers who canceled their performances after Trump’s name was added to the center – a living memorial for assassinated President John F. Kennedy.
The American College Theater Festival voted to suspend its relationship with the Kennedy Center, calling the affiliation “no longer viable” and citing concerns over a misalignment of the group’s values.
American banjo player Béla Fleck withdrew his upcoming performance with the National Symphony Orchestra, saying that performing at the center has become “charged and political.”
The Brentano String Quartet, who canceled their February 1 performance at the Kennedy Center, said they will “regretfully forego performing there.”
CNN has reached out to the Kennedy Center on the additional cancellations.
The opera said, “The Board and management of the company wish the Center well in its own future endeavors.”
CNN’s Betsy Klein and Nicky Robertson contributed to this report.
Washington
Andre Washington’s 20 points help Eastern Illinois take down Tennessee Tech 71-61
CHARLESTON, Ill. (AP) — Andre Washington had 20 points in Eastern Illinois’ 71-61 victory over Tennessee Tech on Thursday.
Washington shot 8 for 13, including 4 for 6 from beyond the arc for the Panthers (5-10, 2-3 Ohio Valley Conference). Meechie White added 13 points and four steals. Kooper Jacobi finished with 11 points and added seven rebounds.
The Golden Eagles (6-10, 1-4) were led in scoring by Jah’Kim Payne, who finished with 11 points. Tennessee Tech also got 10 points from Mekhi Turner.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Washington
Stars defeat Capitals to end losing streak at 6 | NHL.com
Hintz scored into an empty net at 19:41 for the 4-1 final.
“Everybody played hard, did the right things, got pucks in deep, especially in the third period when we’re trying to close out a lead,” DeSmith said. “So, I thought top to bottom, first, second and third, we were really good.”
NOTES: The Stars swept the two-game season series (including a 1-0 win Oct. 28 in Dallas) and are 8-1-0 in their past nine games against the Capitals. … Duchene had the secondary assist on Steel’s goal, giving him 900 points (374 goals, 526 assists) in 1,157 NHL games. … Hintz has 11 points (seven goals, four assists) in an eight-game point streak against Washington. He had a game-high 12 shots on goal. … Thompson has lost six of his past seven starts (1-5-1).
-
Detroit, MI7 days ago2 hospitalized after shooting on Lodge Freeway in Detroit
-
Technology4 days agoPower bank feature creep is out of control
-
Dallas, TX5 days agoDefensive coordinator candidates who could improve Cowboys’ brutal secondary in 2026
-
Dallas, TX2 days agoAnti-ICE protest outside Dallas City Hall follows deadly shooting in Minneapolis
-
Iowa4 days agoPat McAfee praises Audi Crooks, plays hype song for Iowa State star
-
Delaware1 day agoMERR responds to dead humpback whale washed up near Bethany Beach
-
Health6 days agoViral New Year reset routine is helping people adopt healthier habits
-
Nebraska4 days agoOregon State LB transfer Dexter Foster commits to Nebraska