After a 146-day break (but who\u2019s counting), the Washington Capitals are back on the ice for a meaningful hockey game again \u2014 and frankly, how dare they make me wait that long. So selfish.<\/p>\n
The Capitals will take on the Boston Bruins in Game 1 of the regular season tonight, and the Caps\u2019 lineup that will chase Lord Stanley\u2019s Cup this year looks mightily similar to the one that fell in five games to the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round of the 2025 playoffs. <\/p>\n
New to the team is Justin Sourdif, a minor-leaguer grinder who was acquired from the Florida Panthers for two draft picks (management really liked him). Hendrix Lapierre is back at third-line center after an incredible preseason. Bravo, Hendrix. And that unfamiliar, handsome guy in the press box? Well, that\u2019s defenseman Declan Chisholm, a depth acquisition from the Minnesota Wild.<\/p>\n
History could be in the air tonight, too, as Alex Ovechkin, who is now playing in his 21st career NHL season, is a hat trick away from the 900-goal milestone, which is exactly how he got to 800.<\/p>\n
Now, for some of you, I know you weren\u2019t as in-tune with the blog as you usually are over the summer \u2014 we see the hits. Tsk tsk. We\u2019re shaking our heads at you right now. Anyways, because we\u2019re cool, we prepared you a nifty primer for the season opener<\/a> so you can see all the important stuff you missed over the offseason and training camp. Get a clickin\u2019 and pushin\u2019.<\/p>\n Puck drop for Capitals-Bruins is at 7:30 pm on TNT. No Joe B. and Locker, but we will persevere. By the way, we\u2019re in this.<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tGet RMNB ad-free<\/p>\n Support us on Patreon for $5 to hide all ads and get other perks<\/p>\n