8+ mon, 3+ day ago (879+ words) No rain could dampen their enthusiasm at the news that D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) and Leonsis signed a deal that would keep the teams in downtown D.C. until 2050 once the agreement receives expected approval from the D.C. Council. Some of them stood outside the arena's F Street entrance letting unaware fans know. "They're staying here! The arena deal's off!" one of the Alexandria residents yelled to a man whose face was painted half red and half blue. "Oh, thank God!" the man responded. That face-painted man shared the sentiment with fans who gathered inside to witness the Wizards' 122-119 overtime loss. Relief was the dominant reaction. "We really, really don't want to go into Virginia," lifelong fan and native Washingtonian Ashley Littlejohn said, laughing, during the first quarter. Littlejohn and her husband, Timothy, have been attending Wizards, Capitals and Commanders games since the then-Bullets…...

4+ mon, 4+ week ago (425+ words) The Capitals knew how important Fehervary was to them, with his physical presence, defensive intensity and commitment to blocking shots. Martin Fehervary and the Washington Capitals wasted no time in getting a deal done. Fehervary became eligible to sign a contract extension Tuesday, when the new NHL year began, and by early Tuesday afternoon, the Capitals had announced a seven-year, $42 million deal for the defenseman that will keep him in Washington through 2033. Fehervary's extension will kick in next year, for the 2026-27 season, with a salary cap hit of $6 million each year. The salary cap is set to rise significantly in the coming years, jumping from $88 million last year to $95.5 million this coming season and a projected $104 million in 2026. Fehervary is entering the last year of a bridge contract he signed two years ago that pays him $2.675 million per year. In…...

7+ mon, 2+ week ago (826+ words) Breaking news and analysis on politics, business, world, national news, entertainment and more. In-depth DC, Virginia, Maryland news coverage including traffic, weather, crime, education, restaurant reviews and more. Ovechkin hit a milestone. But how should D.C. feel about it? Plus, how the Dodgers should honor Jackie Robinson when they go to the White House. Regarding Barry Svrluga's April 7 front-page column, "Ovechkin over all: The best part of Alex Ovechkin's pursuit of Wayne Gretzky's record? Ovechkin belongs to D.C. He has spent his entire career here with the Washington Capitals, been part of the community and has never shown an inclination to leave. Kudos to Capitals owner Ted Leonsis for keeping Ovechkin and making sure he became our legend. We've seen too many good baseball players depart and shine elsewhere. We celebrate our "Great 8 hero and his place in our city's history. Thanks,…...

7+ mon, 1+ week ago (101+ words) Breaking news and analysis on politics, business, world, national news, entertainment and more. In-depth DC, Virginia, Maryland news coverage including traffic, weather, crime, education, restaurant reviews and more. The Stanley Cup playoffs are underway in Washington. The Capitals opened their first-round series against the Montreal Canadiens with a 3-2 overtime win Monday night at Capital One Arena. Captain Alex Ovechkin scored two goals, including the overtime game-winner.Goaltender Logan Thompson returned from the upper body injury he suffered April 2 to make 33 saves in his first playoff start for the Capitals. Alex Ovechkin's historic chase...

1+ mon, 2+ week ago (251+ words) Breaking news and analysis on politics, business, world, national news, entertainment and more. In-depth DC, Virginia, Maryland news coverage including traffic, weather, crime, education, restaurant reviews and more. Alex Ovechkin made NHL history at UBS Arena in April. The Capitals will seek their first win of the season there Saturday. The game begins at 7 p.m. and will air on Monumental Sports Network. ELMONT, N.Y. " The Washington Capitals have fond memories of Long Island's UBS Arena. It's where, in April, captain Alex Ovechkin scored the 895th goal of his career and passed Wayne Gretzky to become the NHL's all-time leader. Washington lost that game " Marc Gatcomb scored twice for the New York Islanders, becoming what surely will be a trivia answer someday " but the result is of little consequence in the Capitals' memories. Alex Ovechkin made NHL history at UBS Arena in April. The…...

6+ mon, 1+ week ago (1037+ words) Breaking news and analysis on politics, business, world, national news, entertainment and more. In-depth DC, Virginia, Maryland news coverage including traffic, weather, crime, education, restaurant reviews and more. "I think we had some big spots to fill last year, our goals for roster spots. This year, there's fewer holes," Brian MacLellan, Washington's president of hockey operations, said Monday. When Brian MacLellan spoke this time last year, after the Washington Capitals' season ended with a sweep in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs at the hands of the New York Rangers, the then-general manager planned for an aggressive offseason to come. MacLellan spoke of improvement that day, driving home that he knew his team needed significant work to be a contender. This time around, when MacLellan, who moved into a role as Washington's president of hockey operations last summer,…...

7+ mon, 1+ day ago (904+ words) Breaking news and analysis on politics, business, world, national news, entertainment and more. In-depth DC, Virginia, Maryland news coverage including traffic, weather, crime, education, restaurant reviews and more. The Nationals capped a 4-3 homestand with a dud of a loss in the finale, but the four wins offered no shortage of teachable moments. But it's also worth noting what happened over the course of what " until Monday's downright dud " was an absolutely enthralling homestand. Let's be honest: Did I pick the wrong day to go to the ballpark and write about the newly plucky and promising Nationals? I picked the wrong day to go to the ballpark and write about the newly plucky and promising Nationals. If only the local NFL team were brokering a deal with D.C. for a new stadium on a site that brings back so many warm, fuzzy…...

4+ week, 2+ day ago (93+ words) Breaking news and analysis on politics, business, world, national news, entertainment and more. In-depth DC, Virginia, Maryland news coverage including traffic, weather, crime, education, restaurant reviews and more. Cristina Daglas will be the head of research and identity for the organization, which comprises the Washington Wizards, Mystics and Capital City Go-Go. Monumental Basketball " the parent company of the Washington Wizards, Mystics and Capital City Go-Go " hired a former top ESPN editor as head of research and identity, the team confirmed Wednesday. The news was first reported by Front Office Sports....

7+ mon, 1+ week ago (691+ words) Dowd has set career highs in goals with 14 and points with 27, but his value to Washington goes far beyond his stats. PITTSBURGH " The Washington Capitals signed Nic Dowd to a two-year contract extension worth $3 million per season, the team announced Wednesday, keeping the center in D.C. through the 2026-27 campaign. Dowd, who turns 35 next month, is in the final season of a three-year deal that paid him $1.3 million per season. This season, he has set career highs in goals with 14 and points with 27, but his value to Washington goes far beyond his stats. Dowd skates an average of 15:10 and leads the Capitals" forwards with 2:35 on the penalty kill. When Dowd signed with the Capitals in 2018, he was a free agent with just one offer on the table: a one-year deal in Washington. He took it, and seven years later, he"s one…...

6+ mon, 2+ week ago (907+ words) Breaking news and analysis on politics, business, world, national news, entertainment and more. In-depth DC, Virginia, Maryland news coverage including traffic, weather, crime, education, restaurant reviews and more. WASHINGTON " Logan Thompson probably made dozens of saves in these playoffs tougher than this one " a shot by Andre Svechnikov from a severe angle that knocked Washington out of the postseason. In the end, though, that was part of the reason the Capitals couldn't give Carolina a tougher series. With Alex Ovechkin and his teammates struggling to score, a few too many low-percentage shots went in for the Hurricanes. The final one came off Svechnikov's stick late in the third period of Game 5 on Thursday night. Svechnikov was almost in the corner " the second tight-angle goal Thompson allowed in the game " and after an empty-netter the Hurricanes skated off with a 3-1 win…...