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Washington Capitals Rework the Power Play Ahead of the 2026-27 Season

With just two preseason games left before the 2026-27 NHL campaign kicks off, the Washington Capitals are firing on all cylinders. A handful of items need to be addressed and fine-tuned before their first game on Oct.

Published: Wednesday, 23 September 2026 at 8:25 PM
Washington Capitals Rework the Power Play Ahead of the 2026-27 Season
Key Things to Know
  • Washington is revamping its power play after converting just 17.8% of opportunities last season.
  • The Capitals missed the postseason by three points despite finishing with a .579 win percentage.
  • Assistant coach Ray Bennett is managing the power-play overhaul this preseason.
The Story in 60 Seconds

The Washington Capitals are restructuring their power play ahead of their Oct. 2 season opener after missing the playoffs by three points last season. Washington converted only 17.8% of man-advantage opportunities last year, ranking 25th across the NHL. Assistant coach Ray Bennett is overseeing the preseason adjustments, splitting the power play into two distinct units to improve efficiency.

One veteran power-play unit features Alex Ovechkin, Dylan Strome, Jakob Chychrun, Pierre-Luc Dubois, and Tom Wilson. Strome emphasized the need for a stronger mindset focused on retrieving loose pucks and keeping plays alive after clears. Goaltenders Logan Thompson and Charlie Lindgren return to cover the net as the franchise aims for a deep Stanley Cup run.

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